Compare 27 nuclear medicine physicians in Los Angeles, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
27
Nuclear Medicine Physicians
100%
Accepting patients
85%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
LA doesn't have one healthcare system. It has dozens, layered across a metro that stretches 60 miles in every direction. The result is extraordinary depth of specialty care, especially around Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, and Keck, but finding the right provider often means navigating competing hospital networks and long drive times.
Los Angeles has 27 nuclear medicine physicians. The most common credential is MD (85%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Most healthcare trips in LA are car trips. The Medical Center corridor along Beverly Boulevard and the Westwood cluster around UCLA are the two densest provider hubs. Patients on the Eastside rely on Keck and LA County+USC, while the Valley routes through Providence hospitals in Burbank and Mission Hills. Budget an extra 20 minutes for parking at any major campus.
Providers practice throughout Los Angeles. Beverly Hills is known for cosmetic and specialty practices, with easy access to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Santa Monica is providence Saint John's Health Center anchors healthcare in this beachside community. Hollywood is providers along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset serve a large, diverse community with several urgent care options. Westwood is home to UCLA Medical Center, one of the top-ranked hospitals in the country.
Nearby hospitals include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Keck Hospital of USC. Local training programs run through University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Southern California (USC). Los Angeles County has over 30,000 licensed physicians, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
For a diagnostic scan, a technologist injects a small amount of radioactive tracer into your vein. After a waiting period (which varies by study), you lie on a scanning table while a camera detects the tracer's distribution in your body. The scan itself is painless. The nuclear medicine physician interprets the images and sends a report to your doctor. Radiation exposure is low and the tracer is eliminated naturally within hours to days.
Ask which hospital system your new doctor is affiliated with before your first visit. Referrals within UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, or Keck stay inside those networks, and crossing between them can mean starting over with new patient paperwork.
You typically do not see a nuclear medicine physician directly. Your treating doctor orders nuclear medicine studies when needed. Common reasons include cancer staging (PET/CT), evaluating thyroid function, assessing blood flow to the heart (cardiac stress test), detecting bone metastases or fractures (bone scan), and evaluating kidney function. For radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid disease, you will consult with a nuclear medicine or endocrinology specialist.
PET/CT scan: $1,000-6,000 · Bone scan: $500-2,000 · Thyroid uptake scan: $200-1,000 · Cardiac nuclear stress test: $500-3,000
Los Angeles, CA has 27 licensed nuclear medicine physicians. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of nuclear medicine physicians in Los Angeles, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
A PET/CT scan costs $1,000 to $6,000. A bone scan runs $500 to $2,000. A thyroid uptake scan costs $200 to $1,000. A cardiac nuclear stress test ranges from $500 to $3,000. Actual costs in Los Angeles, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. PET scans almost always require prior authorization. Ensure the imaging center is in-network and that authorization is obtained before the study. Outpatient imaging centers may offer lower costs than hospital-based facilities.
In LA, the biggest factor in finding the right provider is hospital network. UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck/USC each operate extensive outpatient systems across the metro. Choosing a primary care doctor within your preferred network makes specialist referrals much smoother.
67% of nuclear medicine physicians in Los Angeles, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers nuclear medicine studies when medically indicated. PET scans for cancer require prior authorization and must meet specific clinical criteria. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some nuclear medicine physicians in Los Angeles, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers nuclear medicine studies in all states when medically necessary. Prior authorization is standard for PET scans and expensive studies. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
Nuclear medicine studies are ordered for specific diagnostic needs. Most patients have them infrequently. Cancer surveillance patients may have periodic PET scans as recommended by their oncologist. With 27 nuclear medicine physicians in Los Angeles, CA, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
It's not required, but it helps. LA's major systems (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Keck/USC, Providence) each have their own referral networks, patient portals, and imaging centers. Staying within one system reduces duplicate tests and simplifies specialist referrals.
LA County has providers who speak over 90 languages. Korean-speaking providers cluster in Koreatown, Armenian-speaking in Glendale, Spanish-speaking across much of East and South LA, and Mandarin/Cantonese-speaking in the San Gabriel Valley. Use FindClarity's language filters to narrow your search.
Nuclear medicine studies are covered under diagnostic imaging benefits. PET/CT scans almost always require prior authorization from your insurance company. Studies must be deemed medically necessary. Some insurers restrict PET scan coverage to specific cancer types or clinical scenarios. Verify authorization before the study to avoid unexpected costs.