Touchstone Imaging in Oklahoma City: Outpatient Imaging with Multiple Locations and Common Insurance Acceptance

Touchstone Imaging operates three diagnostic imaging centers in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, providing CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, and mammography services as an independent outpatient provider outside the hospital system. It functions as a standalone imaging facility where patients can schedule imaging ordered by their primary care physician or specialist, without requiring hospitalization or emergency department routing.

What Touchstone Imaging Actually Is

Touchstone Imaging is a regional, outpatient-focused imaging network with no hospital affiliation. The company operates dedicated imaging centers where patients arrive for scheduled or walk-in diagnostic procedures, receive imaging, and depart the same day. Unlike hospital-based radiology departments, Touchstone centers do not provide emergency imaging services; they serve patients with non-urgent orders from physicians or self-referred patients seeking preventive screening. Radiologists employed by or contracted to Touchstone interpret scans and send reports to ordering physicians or directly to patients. The independent model means scheduling and billing operate separately from hospital systems, which can affect insurance processing and appointment availability.

Services and Pricing Structure

Touchstone offers the full spectrum of outpatient diagnostic imaging: conventional X-ray, ultrasound, CT (including contrast-enhanced exams), MRI, and mammography (both 2D and 3D). Most privately insured patients pay a copay at the time of service, typically $25 to $75 depending on the procedure and plan; uninsured patients typically face facility charges ranging from $200 to $600 for routine X-ray and ultrasound, and $800 to $2,000 for CT and MRI exams. Mammography for screening is usually covered with no out-of-pocket cost under ACA preventive care rules. Self-pay patients are encouraged to call ahead for pricing verification, as facility fees and radiologist fees are separate line items, and exact charges depend on procedure complexity and whether contrast is used. Medicare, most Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Oklahoma Medicaid are accepted, though prior authorization requirements vary by plan.

How Touchstone Compares to Other Oklahoma City Imaging Options

Oklahoma City patients can obtain imaging through hospital-based radiology departments (primarily OU Health and Mercy), urgent care clinics offering basic X-ray, or independent centers like Touchstone. Hospital systems typically charge higher facility fees and route patient billing through hospital accounts; they prioritize emergency and inpatient imaging, so routine outpatient appointments may face longer waits during business hours. Urgent care clinics handle only X-ray and basic ultrasound, not MRI or advanced CT. Touchstone's advantage lies in scheduling flexibility and outpatient focus: dedicated imaging centers can often schedule routine exams within 2-5 business days, and self-pay pricing is often lower than hospital markup on the same procedure. Choose a hospital system if your imaging is urgent, complex, or requires same-day interpretation for hospitalization decisions. Choose Touchstone for routine orders, screening, or follow-up imaging where a 1-2 week wait is acceptable and outpatient convenience is prioritized.

Who Touchstone Suits and Who It Does Not

Touchstone works well for patients with insurance and non-urgent imaging orders from a physician, those seeking screening mammography or other preventive imaging, and patients who prefer an outpatient, appointment-based model. It is a poor fit for emergencies (chest pain, severe trauma, stroke symptoms), patients requiring same-day imaging as part of hospital admission, or those without physician referrals who are unsure whether imaging is medically necessary (hospital ERs provide that triage). Uninsured patients with limited budgets should call to compare Touchstone's facility fees against hospital self-pay discounts before scheduling.

What the First Visit Involves

Patients arrive 10-15 minutes early with photo ID and insurance card. Check-in includes reviewing medical history, confirming the type of imaging ordered, and clarifying any contrast allergies or implanted devices (crucial for MRI and CT with contrast). For MRI, a safety screening questionnaire is standard. The technologist reviews the order, positions the patient, performs the exam (typically 15-45 minutes depending on the procedure), and the patient receives a discharge sheet with information on accessing results online or receiving them by mail. Results are typically available to the ordering physician within 24 hours; direct-to-patient access varies by location and insurance plan.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Touchstone's three Oklahoma City-area locations operate Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with limited Saturday hours at the main location (typically 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.). All centers have on-site parking and are accessible by car; none offer public transit access. Confirm weekend and evening availability by phone when scheduling, as hours can shift seasonally. Bring an insurance card and photo ID; allow 30 minutes for a routine appointment including check-in.

Touchstone Imaging provides accessible, efficient outpatient imaging for the majority of routine Oklahoma City diagnostic needs, with scheduling flexibility and straightforward insurance processing that justify its established position in the local imaging landscape.