Advanced imaging
The anchor question: which centers will run the protocol the physician asked for, read it with a subspecialist, and quote the cash price before the patient arrives? For a provider cohort the map is a roster: what the patient cohorts need, who delivers it, and how the roster stays honest.
What the three patient cohorts need
| Modality or protocol | Serves | Why it is specialized |
|---|---|---|
| Echocardiography with aortic root measurement and Z-score | Hypermobility | Standard echo reports often omit the root measurement or don't index it to body surface area. |
| Vascular imaging, CTA or MRA, head to pelvis | Hypermobility, vascular EDS and Loeys-Dietz workup | Full arterial survey; Loeys-Dietz aneurysms occur throughout the arterial tree, not only at the root. |
| Upright or flexion-extension cervical MRI | Hypermobility, craniocervical instability | Few centers offer upright or dynamic imaging. |
| Brain MRI with spectroscopy; spine MRI | Neurogenetic | A lactate peak and specific sequences need a protocol request. |
| Cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement | Neurogenetic | Cardiomyopathy detection and tracking. |
| Muscle MRI, whole-body or lower limb | Neurogenetic | The pattern of fatty replacement points toward a diagnosis. |
| Breast MRI, mammography, prostate MRI, pelvic ultrasound | Hereditary cancer | High-risk protocols on a long surveillance calendar. |
| Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy | Hereditary cancer | Procedural, not imaging, but it belongs on this roster for Lynch surveillance intervals. |
Vetting criteria
Every entry is checked against the same four criteria before listing and reviewed yearly.
- Runs the protocol the anchor physician requested, not only the default.
- Subspecialty readers: cardiac, neuro, musculoskeletal or breast, as relevant.
- Publishes or quotes a cash price before the study, and gives the patient the images and report.
- Turnaround under a week for routine studies, with a direct line for the ordering physician.
How the roster is built
- Year one: recruit three to five Colorado centers across the modalities above. Agree on protocol sheets for the three patient cohorts.
- Year two: add centers in the other states where members practice. Start a quarterly imaging review where hard studies are discussed with the readers.
- Year three: track turnaround, cash price and read quality per center. Prune and add.
Roster
Forming. Members propose centers in the cohort channel; the convener and one member check the criteria before listing. Each entry will show the center, the modalities it covers, the cash price or how to get a quote, turnaround, and the member who vouched for it.
Colorado Care Network. Advanced imaging. Version 2026-10-30.