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01277 674 889 help@uk.scan.com
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Refer Your Patients

If you’re a clinician, you’ll know the administrative struggles of referring your patients for medical imaging: an endless stream of paperwork, unanswered calls, and a lot of waiting time. Scan.com changes all of that, through our Clinician referral portal.

In just a few clicks, you can refer your patients for private scans with us, and we’ll take care of everything, from clinical due diligence and arranging appointments, to providing results reports.

Referral Provider
Scan.com

Who are Scan.com?

At Scan.com, we’re making medical imaging accessible for clinicians and patients alike. Our market-leading diagnostic imaging platform makes it easy to find private MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, with a choice of over 150 scanning centres, quick online booking, and downloadable digital reports . We've streamlined the process from referral to results, with no GP visits, no waiting lists, and no hidden costs.

Visit our About Us page to read the Scan.com story

01

Patient Details

Fill out a short form to provide the details of your patient

02

Scan Details

Select the modality and the body part to be scanned.

03

And that’s it!

Referral is sent to your patient to finish the booking

What is the referral portal?

Our referral portal gives clinicians direct access to their own dedicated area of our platform. Once you’ve signed up, you can seamlessly refer your patients for self-pay diagnostic imaging services in three easy steps.

For every referral we receive, we provide a choice of price and location for your patients, referral vetting by our experienced clinical team, and speedy results available online. Within the portal, you can track the status of your patient’s order, and we’ll email you whenever there are any updates.

Benefits

For clinicians

Frictionless access to diagnostic imaging all in one place

Quick and easy referrals and fast digital results

Referral vetting and verification carried out by our experienced clinical team

Reduces admin and puts patients in control, while maintaining clinician visibility via status tracking and email updates

Benefits

For patients

Free to choose a convenient scanning centre and compare prices

No waiting lists, no hidden fees, no GP visits

1-1 pre-scan consultation call with a Scan.com clinician

Online access to results

How does it work?

01

Complete your onboarding, and receive your unique portal login. It’s quick and easy, and our friendly team will guide you through the process.

02

Create a referral by providing details of your patient and the scan they need

03

We’ll email your patient to invite them to complete their booking on our platform

04

Our clinical team review the referral, and approve it as appropriate

05

Your patient’s appointment is confirmed by their selected centre, and they have their scan

06

We’ll email you and your patient once the results are in. You can also track the referral status and download reports from within the portal.

Learn more

Ask us a question

Please fill in this short form, and a member of our Partnerships team will be in touch.

Book a demo

Arrange a chat with Toby, our Head of Partnerships, for a personalised portal demo.

Toby

Toby Ryan

Head of Partnerships

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about booking a scan with us, visit our FAQ guide.

Can’t see an answer to your question? Our friendly patient care team are happy to help.

More FAQs

How can scans assist Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)?

In an AHP context, diagnostic scans are most commonly used for musculoskeletal (MSK) purposes. While MSK issues can normally be diagnosed through physical examination and assessment by an AHP, sometimes scans are required.

Common uses for scans within AHP and MSK contexts include:

  • A pre-scan consultation from one of our medical team over the phone or via email.
  • A written referral by our medical team, using the information from your consultation.
  • An MRI scan at your chosen scanning centre.
  • A written report on your scan by a consultant radiologist.
  • Access to copies of your scan images, which are downloadable, as required.
  • A post-scan consultation with one of our medical team if there are any adverse findings in your scan.

What are the different types of diagnostic scans for musculoskeletal (MSK) problems?

MRI Scans

  • Safe and non-invasive
  • Best suited to imaging soft tissues, and body parts with higher proportions of water, e.g. tendons, muscles, ligaments, fat, swelling
  • Use high-strength magnetic fields and radio-frequency waves to create images
  • Useful for scanning large areas
  • Take longer to complete

Ultrasound Scans

  • Safe and non-invasive
  • Suitable for targeted imaging of certain body parts
  • Can be used to capture images of body parts while they are in motion
  • Use high-frequency sound waves, which bounce off bodily tissues. These echoes are used to generate images
  • Quick to use, and often cheaper for patients

CT Scans

  • Uses radiation in the form of X-rays all around the body. The CT scanner's detectors measure how much of the ray passes through bodily tissues, to compile images
  • Faster than an MRI scan, and better at viewing bone than an ultrasound scan
  • Must be medically justified due to the radiation exposure involved in the scan

How can I decide which scan is best for my patient?

The modality you should select for your patient depends on their symptoms, the body part being scanned, and whether the images need to be captured while the body is in motion, at rest, or within an urgent timeframe.

Don't worry if you're not completely certain of your modality or body part choice. Our expert GP's and radiologists review every referral to ensure your patient receives the most suitable scan for their needs.

What is Scan.com’s clinical due diligence process to justify scans?

While we believe medical imaging should be accessible, it is important to us that the scans we provide are medically justified. This is why Scan.com has a robust clinical due diligence procedure. Our team of clinicians, led by consultant radiologist Dr Khalid Latief (BMSc, MBChB, FRCP, FRCR), are here to review every referral. They'll ensure the selected scan will provide the required outcomes for the patient, recommend alternatives where necessary, and deliver the highest levels of patient care throughout. They can also assist in interpreting radiologist's reports, and can provide recommendations for onward care as required.

How can MRI scans be used in an AHP context?

MRI scans are recommended for:

  • Scanning larger areas, consisting of different types of tissues. For example, a scan of the entire hand or foot, in order to assess the soft tissues, bones, joints and connective tissues all in one scan
  • Deep tissue scans, to provide clearer images of tissue composition and health. For example, MRI is particularly useful for assessing fluid around joint tears, and abnormalities/growths nearer the bones
  • Detecting inflammation, tumours, degeneration, abnormal growth, fluid, herniations

MRI scans are not recommended for:

  • Dynamic scans (while the body is in motion), as the clarity of MRI images depends on the patient lying very still for the entire process
  • People who have metal within their body, such as certain medical implants or shrapnel
  • People who suffer with claustrophobia, though we do offer open and upright MRI scans to suit these patients

How can Ultrasound scans be used in an AHP context?

Ultrasound scans are recommended for:

  • Providing high-resolution images of one body part at a time, instead of larger areas
  • Capturing images of the body part while it is in motion (dynamic scans), to see whether structures are catching or pinching. This can help diagnose conditions such as bursitis
  • Imaging soft tissues under the skin, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues, to look for tears, growths, tumours, fluid or calcifications
  • Scanning the exact site of pain

Ultrasound scans are not recommended for:

  • Deep tissue scans
  • Bone scans
  • Cartilage scans

How can CT scans be used in an AHP context?

CT Scans are recommended for:

  • Scanning the bones in detail and assessing complex fractures
  • Locating and assessing tumours. This includes tumours of the bones and joints in a musculoskeletal context
  • Assessing spinal trauma
  • Finding blood clots, aneurysms and problems with blood flow
  • Scanning large areas of the body very quickly, compared to an MRI scan. CT is therefore suitable for patients who cannot comfortably lie still for the duration of an MRI scan, or patients in urgent care settings

CT scans are not recommended for:

  • Patients who are pregnant, due to the risks of exposing a developing baby to the radiation used in CT scanning
  • Patients who don't have any specific symptoms, as this would involve unnecessary radiation exposure
  • Patients who have kidney problems, due to the use of iodine-based contrast agents
  • Capturing detailed images of the soft tissues - an MRI would be more suitable in this case

Does my patient need a scan?

There are occasions where a physical examination is not comprehensive enough to identify or rule out certain disorders or abnormalities. Common conditions which can show up in scan results include:

  • Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow
  • Rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, tears
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Hamstring injuries
  • Wrist and hand tendinopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Lumps and their composition, such as tumours and cysts
  • Tissue damage
  • Fractures

Our expert clinicians assess every referral we receive. Based on the notes you provide, they will let you and your patient know if they feel a different scan may be better suited in each circumstance.

What happens after I’ve referred my patient?

Once you've placed a referral via your link, there are three further steps that take place:

  1. Your patient will be notified of the referral. They'll complete their booking, by selecting a conveniently located scanning centre from our 150+ partner sites, and making payment.
  2. Our expert clinical team will review each individual referral, to make sure your patient receives the most suitable scan for their needs.
  3. Your patient will have their scan at their selected centre, and their imaging report will be emailed to you and them, for viewing and downloading.

How much will scans cost for my patients?

Scan.com offers your patients the freedom to choose a scanning centre at a convenient location near them, and compare a range of prices. The price they’ll pay depends on the location and individual scanning centre, and whether a contrast agent is required. MRI scans start from £305, ultrasound from £180, and CT from £360.

How and when will I receive the scan results?

All imaging reports are generated by experienced radiologists, and are available to view online. The report will usually be emailed to you within 7 working days after your patient’s scan.

What’s the difference between diagnostic imaging, medical imaging, and scans?

For the purposes of written content, Scan.com use these terms interchangeably. While we built our reputation through providing accessible diagnostic imaging, we offer a range of scans and imaging applications, which can be used in a variety of contexts. All scans are reported on by an experienced radiologist, and the results can feed into a range of patient pathways, from diagnostics to treatment and preventative measures

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