How To Prepare For Your Diagnostic or Screening Imaging Visit

As a patient, if you are having an outpatient procedure or test performed, you should consult with your physician or healthcare team to receive the proper steps to prepare for your visit. To help you prepare for your visit, we’ve provided answers to some common questions below.

Q: When should I arrive for my imaging appointment?

For outpatient visits, you should plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early, so you won't be rushed as you park and come into the hospital or imaging center. This will also allow us more time to process any paperwork, insurance, and billing information correctly before your appointment.

• The physician's order
  When your physician requests a diagnostic study that requires medical imaging, you will be given a written order, or the office of your referring physician will send the order to us electronically. If you are given a written order, please make sure to bring it with you to your visit. If your physician sent the order electronically, please check with our team before your visit to ensure we received the order from your physician’s office.
• Your health insurance card
• A picture identification (Driver’s License, etc)
• Any referral and/or authorization forms required by your insurance company
• A list of your current medications

Q: What do I need to inform staff about ahead of time?

Patients need to alert imaging staff before their appointment about the following:

• If they have a pacemaker or metal in their body
• Any known allergies you have
• If you have a bone stimulator, insulin pump, spinal stimulator, or any implanted device
• Any health conditions that could make your procedure difficult or uncomfortable
• If you are pregnant or could be pregnant

Q: What if my imaging appointment involves contrast?

If a patient’s appointment involves the use of oral contrast, they will need to pick it up before the appointment. If the oral contrast for a CT scan is not picked up beforehand, it will add an additional two hours to the study time. The radiology staff will make a reminder call and answer any questions about using contrast before your scheduled appointment.

Q: Where should I go when I arrive for my imaging appointment?

When you arrive, please check in at the imaging front desk.

To Prepare For Your Imaging Visit, It Is Also Important To:

• Talk With Your Doctor About Any Prep Required For Your Imaging Test
  Most of the time, there is little preparation required on your part for an imaging procedure. However, some imaging procedures may require you to prepare at home or when you arrive at the radiology facility. For example, abdominal studies often involve swallowing a liquid containing barium before your procedure, and certain studies require your bladder or bowel to be clear, so evacuation must begin several hours in advance. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to best prepare for your specific procedure. Make sure you complete these steps before arriving for your test, otherwise your procedure may need to be rescheduled.
  
• Make Sure Your Doctor Knows Your Pregnant or Could Be Pregnant
  Any woman who is pregnant, or suspects that she is pregnant, or is nursing should talk with their physician before any imaging procedure is performed.

Questions about your upcoming imaging visit? Give us a call.

If you have questions about your upcoming visit, diagnostic procedure, or screening test, please call the Archbold Radiology Department at 229.228.2900.

For scheduling questions or to cancel or reschedule an imaging appointment, please call 229.228.2084