Radiologists launch CoreViva, another elective whole-body MRI startup
Two California radiologists are entering the increasingly crowded elective whole-body MRI market with the launch of CoreViva.
Co-founders Alan Alexander, MD, MSc, and Brian Tsui, MD, officially kickstarted the company this month after two years in “stealth” mode, Athletech News reported Wednesday. Their flagship clinic is in Newport Beach, California, and is now accepting patient appointments.
Alexander—who previously served as global head of medical imaging at McKinsey & Company—said the two decided to start their business after finding “gaps” in the elective MRI market.
“Working as a team physician for the L.A. Lakers and Dodgers showed me how transformative early detection can be in high-performance environments,” Alexander told the website. “I founded CoreViva because I realized nothing in the market met our high bar for optimal patient screening and care.”
The company charges $2,699 for its whole-body MRI service, an all-inclusive fee that includes other follow-ups, according to an FAQ posted on its website. CoreViva’s scans last 30 minutes, with the entire appointment about one hour from check-in to completion. The company is touting perks such as rapid results received within two days, one-on-one consultations with radiologists to discuss findings, and a “VIP experience” designed for “comfort and support.” It also utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance image quality and interpretation and delivers personalized “CoreViva Scores” to aid in care planning. Measurements cover concerns such as brain and musculoskeletal age, along with visceral fat levels.
“Being physician-led and physician-backed means we put patients first in everything we do, including the quality of the scan, the experience itself, and the follow-up care,” Alexander, who is leading the company as CEO, said in a post shared by HIT Consultant July 9.
Tsui was motivated to co-start the company after witnessing young, seemingly healthy patients suffer diseases that could have been caught earlier. During his time at the University of California, San Francisco, he also saw patients, who were treated by other whole-body MRI providers, grappling with anxiety from false-positive results. He hopes CoreViva’s care model and focus on expedience and personal touch can help alleviate angst.
“Our 1:1 consultations eliminate any uncertainties that patients might have,” Tsui told Athletech News. “Patients can ask questions directly and understand exactly what their scan means. As a radiologist, I love being able to provide that clarity: taking a million different possibilities and distilling them down to ‘this is what’s happening in your body.’”
CoreViva joins other companies focused on elective whole-body MRIs such as Prenuvo and Function Health, which are both backed by celebrity investors. The latter recently entered the imaging market after acquiring Ezra in May. Prenuvo has now raised over $120 million from investors and delivered 100,000-plus scans at roughly $2,499 for the core, 45-minute service. Radiology groups such as SimonMed Imaging and Rayus also have entered the elective MRI market amid growing demand.
Whole-body MRIs have been the source of some controversy in recent years, too. The American College of Radiology does not support the practice, noting there is no clinical evidence proving these exams prolong life.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.