Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Wait Times
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an essential diagnostic tool that helps health care providers make accurate decisions about your care. This page provides up-to-date information on MRI wait times across PEI, so you know what to expect before your scan.
Wait times can vary based on urgency, demand, and available resources. While Health PEI works hard to meet national targets, factors such as staffing shortages may cause delays. Below, you’ll find current wait times and target benchmarks for emergency, urgent, semi-urgent, and routine MRI exams.
Typically, you can expect to wait:
| Urgent | Semi-Urgent | Non-Urgent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half of all patients (50%) waited less than this # of days for their scan |
9 days | 38 days | 133 days |
| 9 out of 10 patients (90%) waited less than this # of days for their scan |
23 days | 107 days | 730 days |
Timeframe: October 2025 to January 2026
Health PEI reports MRI wait times by showing how long half of patients waited and how long 9 out of 10 patients waited. Using the 50th percentile (half) and 90th percentile (most) offers a clearer picture of patient experience and aligns with Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) methodology. Percentiles give a more transparent view than averages, which can be skewed by a few very short or very long waits.
Target MRI Wait Times
Target wait times are the recommended maximum timeframes for patients to receive an MRI scan based on the urgency of their condition. These targets are set to ensure timely access to care:
| Urgent | Semi-Urgent | Non-Urgent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Wait Time | 14 days | 28 days | 84 days |
Your MRI Timeline Explained
MRI wait times are measured from the date your MRI request is received by Health PEI until the date your MRI is performed. This does not include the time between your appointment with your health care provider and when they sent the referral.
Wait times are influenced by factors such as clinical urgency, equipment availability, and staffing levels. Health PEI regularly reviews these metrics to ensure transparency and to improve access.
What other information is available?
- Diagnostic Imaging Wait Times Explained
- MRI Wait Times Data (January 2021 – June 2025)
- MRI Wait Times Data Comparison (April 2021 – June 2025)
For more information about magnetic resonance imaging, visit Diagnostic Imaging Services or the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR).
Resources
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Phone: 902-368-6130
Fax: 902-368-6136
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If you are unsure what to do about a health issue or if you need health information,
call 8-1-1.
