Your Questions Answered
You have questions. We have answers. Here are some of the most frequently asked.
What is a radiologist?
A radiologist is a medical doctor (M.D.). Your radiologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disease and injury by using medical imaging techniques.
What kind of training and education does a radiologist have?
Radiologists graduate from accredited medical schools, pass a licensing examination, and then complete a one year medical or surgical internship followed by a residency of at least four years. At Radiology & Imaging, many of our radiologists also have completed another two years of study (a fellowship) after their residency.
What does a radiologist actually do?
Radiologists play an important role in your health care. They are expert consultants to referring physicians. We call the doctor who sent you for an exam a referring physician or your personal physician. Radiologists work with your personal physician to choose the exam that fits your needs. The examiner or technologist conducts your exam. Then the radiologist interprets your medical images and will recommend further scans or treatments, if necessary.
Radiologists also treat diseases. They use radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive, image-guided surgery. Other physicians rely on radiologists to correlate medical image findings with other examinations and tests.
Will a board-certified radiologist interpret my exam and are all Radiology & Imaging facilities formally accredited?
Yes and yes. Every one of our radiologists is a properly qualified physician board-certified by The American College of Radiology (ACR). Each Radiology & Imaging facility is formally accredited by ACR.
What does the ACR do?
The ACR has a comprehensive program of facility accreditation for radiation oncology, MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, PET, ultrasound, mammography, breast ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsy. Our equipment and people must meet specific ACR qualifications. A high level of image quality is required for ACR accreditation.
Can I speak with my Radiology & Imaging radiologist?
Absolutely! Your Radiology & Imaging radiologist is available to you and your referring physician. He or she will help your doctor choose the proper exam and interpret the results. Using those exam results, your radiologist will help recommend next steps. Your health is our concern.
What is a radiologic technologist?
A radiologic technologist or examiner is a specially trained medical professional that performs your diagnostic imaging examination. Even though they perform the exam, they are not trained in interpreting the images. Each of our technologists has successfully passed a national certification examination. They also must continue their education by earning credits every year to perform imaging studies.
Will my insurance cover my exam?
Coverage for imaging tests is variable and depends on your insurance carrier, your plan, any exclusions, and sometimes the indications for the examination. If you have questions regarding your coverage, please call the phone number on the back of your insurance card.
Why do I need to bring all of my prior films?
It is extremely important that you bring any previous pertinent studies. The radiologist needs to see how your current exam compares with the old ones. This can often eliminate the need for further studies and also helps to identify any subtle changes that have occured since your last examination.
What time to do I need to arrive for my exam?
It's necessary for you to arrive early in order to complete or review your paperwork and prepare you for your examination. Our technologists need to keep a strict schedule in order to accommodate the many patients we see everyday. For some procedures patients need to arrive earlier. Please check the exam preparations and instructions section or look on the back side of your physician's order for specific instructions for your exam.
What clothing should I wear for my exam?
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. You may have to put on one of Radiology & Imaging's exam gowns. Metal objects like jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins may affect the images. When you can, leave those items at home. You may also remove them just before your exam.
How soon will my personal doctor know the results of my exam?
Radiology & Imaging works hard to ensure that your exam results reach your doctor as quickly as possible. Usually, that is within 24 hours of your exam. When you need results faster than that, Radiology & Imaging provides them.
