Minneapolis-based Center for Diagnostic Imaging plans to acquire four former Smart Choice MRI outpatient imaging centers in Wisconsin.
CDI announced it has reached an agreement to buy the former Smart Choice locations in Kenosha, Appleton, De Pere and La Crosse. They will become part of CDI’s Wisconsin network, which currently includes locations in Appleton and Eau Claire and six Milwaukee-area imaging centers that are operated in partnership with Froedert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.
"We're excited about expanding our presence in Wisconsin," said Rick Long, president and chief executive officer of CDI. "We've had a long history of providing critical health care answers to patients and providers throughout the state, and these new centers help us expand access to our high-quality, high-value imaging services at a crucial time when people are seeking the convenience and safety of outpatient care."
Smart Choice MRI, which was formerly headquartered in
Mequon before moving to Chicago in 2017, has closed its remaining locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Smart Choice operated six locations in Wisconsin, eight in Illinois and three in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Between late 2015 and 2017, Smart Choice received investments from three hospital systems, including $3 million from Appleton-based ThedaCare, $7 million from Edward-Elmhurst Health in suburban Chicago, and an undisclosed investment from Colorado-based UCHealth in 2017 that the company said would help fuel its
regional and national expansion. Smart Choice built its clinic network on a flat fee model, providing outpatient MRIs for $600 or less.
Smart Choice could not immediately be reached for comment.
The former Smart Choice center in Kenosha, located at 7224 118th Ave., will temporarily close and reopen as part of the Froedtert & MCW/CDI network of centers. The centers in Appleton and De Pere are continuing normal operations as part of CDI; and the La Crosse Center will open as a CDI center later.
"It's important to make sure patients continue to get the answers they need," said Long. "CDI is well established in these markets, the referring communities know us well and we've stepped up to make sure patients get seen right away."
CDI has 130 centers nationwide, including 15 outpatient centers in the Twin Cities and two in Chicago. With its four new locations, CDI will now operate 10 centers in Wisconsin.
