5 Things to remember before going to a radiologist
When a person needs to go to a radiologist they are going to need to have some diagnostic images taken of a specific area of their body. This will help the doctor determine what is going on so they can diagnose and treat the medical condition. This imaging can also reduce the need to have exploratory surgery. There are some things that a person should keep in mind before they are going to the radiologist that can make their visit go smoothly. Check out Bulk billing X Ray on the Gold Coast for an expert radiologist in Australia
1. Paperwork
When a person goes to the office there is a good chance they will not have to fill out a ton of paperwork. Digital medical records make it easy for doctors to share information. They can upload documents and have everything they need in one place. These online platforms are secure and HIPPA compliant. When a person is going to the radiologist they should make sure that all of the information is up to date on this portal. This includes a phone number and email address so the person can be reached. There may be some additional documents that are needed outside of this portal. A person should go to the radiology appointment with their photo id to verify their identity. They should also bring along the insurance card. This will be needed in case the insurance information is not included with the data and if there have been any changes made. This will also help send the bill to the insurance company and not the patient.
2. Take off Jewelry
While most people like to keep on their wedding rings and people often do not think about earrings they need to be taken off before the radiology appointment. They should be kept in a safe place at home. All body piercings will need to be removed if a person has them. The metal from these objects can interfere with the functioning of the radiology machine. If a person has any metal devices or implants in the body they need to tell the radiologist this so they can still get a proper scan. If someone works in the field of welding or a related field there may be small pieces of shrapnel in the body. The doctor will need to know this information too. This will allow the technician performing the radiology appointment to make sure a person is safe and everything is done correctly.
3. Deodorant
While wearing deodorant every day is common a person should not wear it to the radiology appointment. It can interfere with the images and the diagnosis of a medical condition. The deodorant can show up as spots on the images. The results can be hard to read. While smelling fresh is important a person can skip the deodorant until their radiology appointment is over.
4. Clothing
A person should ask what type of clothing they are allowed to wear to the appointment. Some facilities will have a person wear a medical gown. Others may allow a person to be more comfortable and wear their clothes. The clothing will have to be loose fitting and free of buttons, zippers, and any other metal pieces. There are some things that a person will also need to remove. They will need to take out hearing aids, hair accessories, wigs, bras with underwires, and possibly some other items during the test. A person should contact the facility before they go in to see what they are allowed to wear.
5. Medications
If a person is taking medications they will need to tell the radiologist. They should make a note of this before they have the procedure. If a person is on different medications they should bring a list of all of the medications they are taking and the doses they are taking. This will help them remember everything. Most people do not need to take special precautions before a radiology appointment but it is good for the doctor to know in case anything such as fasting may be required. It is better to be safe when it comes to medications.
These are five big things to remember when going to a radiology appointment. A person should be prepared and their appointment will go smoothly and they will be in and out of the office in no time.