Diagnostic Imaging Services launches advanced Prostate MRI program

A new cutting-edge prostate digital imaging system has been incorporated with a leading-edge 3 Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system at a Capitol Imaging Services freestanding independent outpatient imaging center in Metairie, LA. The result? The creation of an advanced prostate MRI program that is truly unique to the greater New Orleans, LA area, state of Louisiana and the … Read More

One hospital charges $8,000 — another, $38,000

Consumers finally got some answers about one of modern life’s most persistent mysteries: how much medical care actually costs. In 2013, for the first time, the federal government released the prices that hospitals charge for the 100 most common inpatient procedures. Until now, these charges have been closely held by facilities that see a competitive advantage in shielding their fees … Read More

Diagnostic Imaging Services launches 3T MRI service

Over eight years ago, Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) brought the power and versatility of 3T ultra high field MRI to the greater New Orleans, LA metropolitan area. Our affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services (DIS), installed a cutting-edge 3T MRI system. At the time, it created the only facility in Metairie, LA with ultra high field and a non claustrophobic MRI with a … Read More

Wait three weeks for an MRI? Just say no!

Capitol Imaging Services was contacted via our online appointment request form, in order to schedule an MRI. The reason? In their own words, “I need to have my MRI done next week, and the last time I had to wait three weeks, mainly because the doctor sent to an MRI center where he had business interests. Please help me get … Read More

Scientists located biomarkers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A few years ago, researchers trying to find the key to a mysterious group of digestive ailments located a number of biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Their discovery is part of the efforts to lead to earlier diagnoses and intervention for individuals still asymptomatic. A team of scientists from the University of Cincinnati analyzed data from the Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR), a … Read More

The clear-cut choice for women and physicians when it comes to mammograms

Capitol Imaging Services have served tens of thousands of women with our women’s health examinations in screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, bone density studies, breast MRI and breast biopsy. We implemented 3D mammography several years ago to provide a mammogram technique that is considered superior to conventional 2D mammography in thoroughly evaluating breast tissue to identify any areas of concern. … Read More

What is musculoskeletal radiology?

Musculoskeletal radiology is the application of medical imaging using radiation to the study of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. It has a number of uses, ranging from a better understanding of human anatomy to the development of diagnostic criteria for evaluating patients with musculoskeletal diseases. Medical schools typically teach a unit on musculoskeletal radiology and students interested in pursuing careers in this field can take additional coursework to learn … Read More

Results were sent to me already???

A Capitol Imaging Services affiliate received a telephone call from a woman who had come to our imaging center in Metairie, LA on a Saturday morning for her screening mammogram. She called because she had received her results in the mail and the date on her correspondence was the Monday following the weekend. She was concerned that the results came … Read More

When medical bills hurt your credit

You may not know about health care bills sent to collections, but they can really hit your credit scores. Capitol Imaging Services shares an article about advice on how to protect yourself and your credit. Click here to learn more. At Capitol Imaging Services, you can identify any potential fees that you may incur as a result of an imaging … Read More

Proposed new guidelines recommend lowering lung cancer screening guidelines

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently recommended an update to lung cancer screening guidelines, with screening being performed through a low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) exam. According to the medical imaging community website, Aunt Minnie, “The move would bring Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement in line with recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which itself lowered … Read More

Capitol Imaging Services debuting new PET/CT center in Southwest Louisiana

Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) is happy to announce that our Louisiana PET/CT Imaging of Lake Charles center is moving into a new location. Our center will be located at 831 Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles, LA. Finishing touches are currently being completed and patient service is tentatively scheduled to commence soon. According to the American College of Radiology, “Positron Emission … Read More

State-of-the-art MRI coming to our Covington, LA imaging center

Capitol Imaging Services continues our commitment to providing the latest screening and diagnostic testing technology to serve both the people of the Southeastern U.S. and medical and healthcare providers. At our Diagnostic Imaging Services center in Covington, LA, we are pleased to announce the upcoming installation of a General Electric 450w high field MRI. This MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) systems … Read More

An insurer tells a patient his MRI costs less at an outpatient imaging center

Ask Rick Harrison of Columbus, Ohio.  In this story, Mr. Harrison needed a MRI of his knee.  His physician referred him to a hospital imaging center.  That evening, after the physician appointment, his insurance provider “called to tell him that there were other sites where magnetic resonance imaging would cost less. The next day, Harrison switched his appointment to a free-standing … Read More

CT screenings can cut lung cancer deaths according to study

According to a study conducted in the Netherlands and published in the January 2020 New England Journal of Medicine, annual Computed Tomography (CT) screenings of former and current long-time smokers have been proven to reduce deaths from lung cancer. “Wonderful News” Dr. Debra Dyer, a spokeswoman for the American College of Radiology and chair of radiology at National Jewish Health … Read More

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

The month of November is designated as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The Lung Cancer Awareness Month Coalition is a group of leading international research and advocacy organizations that partner each November in an effort to improve outcomes for lung cancer patients across the world. Unlike many other diseases, with lung cancer, there is a shocking lack of knowledge among both … Read More

What is a ganglioglioma?

A ganglioglioma is a rare type of brain tumor. Tumors are issues that grow more rapidly than normal. Gangliogliomas are types of brain tumors that are made of mixed groups of cells. A cell is the smallest, most basic unit of life, that is capable of existing by itself. Gangliogliomas are partly made of abnormal glial cells. Glial cells are … Read More

Lift jump row for Real Men Wear Pink 2021

What better way to raise important funds for the American Cancer Society’s fight against breast cancer than by breaking a sweat and incorporating a morning of fitness! That’s what happened on Saturday, October 16 at Cross Fit in New Orleans, LA. Over 20 men and women joined the Capitol Imaging Services 2021 Real Men Wearing Pink man, Jeff Beach (pictured … Read More

Diagnostic Imaging Services believes real men wear pink

Real Men Wear Pink is a distinguished group of community leaders raising awareness and funds for this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Together they are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Real Men Wear Pink gives men a leadership role in the fight against breast cancer. Community leaders around the nation use the power of … Read More

Positioning inside an MRI

This is an inquiry Capitol Imaging Services associates and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologists get asked frequently. We thought we would provide a brief answer. Center of the MRI The part of the body that is scanned must be in the center of the scanner tunnel. If the body part being scanned is from the waist down, you will be … Read More

The power and superiority of Genius 3D mammography

Conventional 2D mammograms provide doctors with a 2D image to evaluate the breast. This can be limiting due to overlapping layers of tissue, which can sometimes produce unclear results, false alarms, or worse–cancer being missed. Genius exams deliver a series of detailed breast images, allowing your doctor to better evaluate your breasts layer by layer, and over 100 clinical studies … Read More

Screening mammogram special: take advantage during the month of October

During the month of October, Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services (DIS), offers a special screening mammogram price of only $99. This price special is valid October 1 – October 30, 2021. The Diagnostic Imaging Services Women’s Center in Metairie, LA will be open each Saturday during October to offer weekend screenings. DIS also offers a $75 price special … Read More

Planning and paying for a diagnostic procedure

Millions of diagnostic exams are performed in the United States each year. However, planning and paying for these often-essential procedures can be confusing and sometimes much more expensive than they need to be. If diagnostic exams were like most consumer products, you could simply compare imaging scan prices online, come up with the funds, and make your purchase. Unfortunately, almost nothing … Read More

What is the value of a DaTscan?

Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disease affecting balance, movement and agility, affects approximately 1 percent of the population over 60 years of age. Although recent years have brought increased awareness of this disorder, the lack of a test to detect this condition can lead to misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and related syndromes. In many cases, especially early in the course … Read More

How many new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed annually?

In the United States, between 50,000 and 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed. It is estimated that as many as one million people around the country suffer from the condition. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson’s disease. The … Read More

What is the difference between a CT scan and an MRI?

Computed Tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans both provide diagnostic images of the inside of your body. However, they accomplish this important task in very different ways. Here are a few key differences between CT scans and MRI scans. Radiation CT uses x-ray technology to produce diagnostic images. These x-rays require a small dose of ionizing radiation. … Read More

Mammograms and women’s health exams: having insurance doesn’t always pay

Capitol Imaging Services shares a news article on the unfortunate situation a medical doctor incurred when becoming a patient herself, and experiencing what many other non-medically trained people have: high hospital imaging fees. This occurred in New York state. However, no matter the location, the principle issue raised in this article and countless others holds true here. Be aware of … Read More

Thyroid disease awareness: give yourself a “neck check”

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. Thyroid disease affects as many as 30 million Americans, according to the American College of Endocrinology. What is the thyroid? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in front of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland produces hormones that control how the body functions – including heart rate, cholesterol level, body … Read More

Possible ruptured breast implant?

Breast implants are one of the more commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the United States. More than 285,000 women received breast implants in 2014. Although it has been clearly demonstrated that ruptured implants do not cause harm, women should consider potential complications when making the personal decision to have breast implants. A ruptured breast implant is one such risk. … Read More

Don’t pay through the nose!

Capitol Imaging Services says do yourself a favor and breathe easier by choosing us. At one local hospital, according to Medicare, in 2013 the average submitted charge for an MRI without the use of a contrast dye was $3,533.25. The average submitted by Capitol Imaging Services? $1,254 Hospitals and health systems across the country are known for charging exorbitant fees for … Read More

Medical imaging procedures and radiation concerns: are you safe?

For a number of years, the media did extensive coverage from time to time on radiation exposure from medical imaging procedures. When our patients come in, that was often a topic that we get asked about. Patients want to know how much radiation they’ll be exposed to during their procedure, and how that might affect them in regards to their … Read More

Cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury linked to brain connectivity disruptions

Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a news report that says cognitive impairment following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common, often adversely affecting quality of life for those 1.7 million Americans who experience a TBI each year. A study recently published in the Journal of International Neuropsychological Society found that individuals who are at least six months post-injury exhibit between-network, long-range … Read More

Thousands more for an ultrasound

Capitol Imaging Services was contacted by a woman who had her doctor recommend an ultrasound due to a condition known as aortic stenosis. However, she told her doctor there was no way she was going to have the test when the hospital told her the cost was $2,870! She had health insurance and therefore the price of $2,870 would be … Read More

What a woman should know about 3D mammography

Women 40 years of age and older should begin annual mammograms to help detect breast cancer. There is what has been touted as a much superior screening tool: 3D mammography. But what is 3D mammography and how is it different from traditional mammography? 3D mammography is an FDA-approved advanced technology that takes multiple images, or x-rays, of breast tissue to … Read More

Benefits of CT scans may outweigh cancer risk for young adults

Capitol Imaging Services shares an article published a few years ago in which the potential cancer risk that younger adults face from exposure to Computed Tomography (CT) scans pales in comparison to the actual threat posed by health conditions driving the use of the imaging technology, according to a published study. Examining medical records from about 22,000 patients between the … Read More

Why would someone be told they needed a CT scan?

CT (Computed Tomography) scanning is a noninvasive way to study all parts of your body. The technique itself is painless and can provide extremely accurate images. In many instances, a CT scan can decidedly decrease the need to perform surgery and CT scans have vastly improved the ability of doctors to diagnose many diseases earlier in their course and with … Read More

Mammograms: lots of faulty information out there

Despite large-scale campaigns to publicize the importance of breast cancer screening, a lot of faulty information regarding the mammogram exam is still being delivered to patients and sometimes interpreted as fact. To gauge where gaps in knowledge about breast cancer screening are most commonly occurring, the Working Mother Research Institute surveyed more than 2,500 women aged 35 and older to … Read More

It’s called value

In an era of continued healthcare cost reduction, independent medical providers have an edge: It’s called value. As calls from government and private payers continue for hospitals to trim costs and become more transparent in their pricing, some experts believe the pendulum may swing to favor providers delivering quality care at the best price. The notion flies contrary to the … Read More

Customer service stinks

The above is from a quote in an article about television news personality John Stossel, when he revealed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer isn’t really what’s bothering him. It’s the service he was receiving this week at a New York hospital. He wrote: “My doctors tell me my growth was caught early and I’ll be fine,” … Read More

Choosing Capitol Imaging Services from nearly 300 miles away

Capitol Imaging Services was recently contacted by a person who received a recommendation for an MRI. While that is not at all uncommon, it is unique that this individual will be coming to our East Bank facility from nearly 300 miles away. The reason? Our high field open MRI. The person is larger in size and stature, and therefore traditional … Read More

Patient satisfaction results in pizza treat

What did one person decide to do in showing their gratitude for how happy they were with the service and care provided at our Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Homosassa Open MRI? Calling Little Caesars! Four delicious pies and assorted side items were dropped off for our staff as a way of saying “thank you” for a job very well done … Read More

Three components: patient, doctor and insurance provider

Let’s talk about a term that may be unfamiliar to many people but may cause lots and lots of confusion, aggravation and stress: medical necessity. Medical necessity is defined as “accepted health care services and supplies provided by health care entities, appropriate to the evaluation and treatment of a disease, condition, illness or injury and consistent with the applicable standard … Read More

The cost effectiveness of 3D mammography

According to research published by Yale University, 3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), has one more thing physicians and women should like about it: It’s cost-effective. Researchers say not only does it find more cancers than digital mammography alone, 3D mammography reduces the number of exams categorized as what’s known as “BI-RADS 3” or “probably benign,” which tend … Read More

Why do I need to wait 2-3 hours after my injection for a nuclear medicine bone scan?

This is a common question asked of our nuclear medicine technologists. One of our technologists, Blaine, provides the answer for you. Bone Imaging is used to detect skeletal lesions as the earliest possible time, monitor the course of skeletal diseases and evaluate the metabolic activity of skeletal lesions.  It can also detect osteomyelitis as well as stress fractures. The injection … Read More

Another recommendation to shop around for healthcare services

Capitol Imaging Services has and will continue to trumpet the cause for people to stop being passive patients and start being active consumers. This means standing up for themselves when discussing options for healthcare services with their provider. Often, a provider, particularly if they are employed by a hospital or health system, will direct you there, regardless of cost to … Read More

What you need to know about an arthrogram

Capitol Imaging Services is a freestanding independent outpatient imaging provider that performs a specialty procedure called an arthrogram at select affiliate centers. An arthrogram uses imaging equipment to evaluate a joint like the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or ankle. It is a two-step procedure consisting of a contrast injection into the joint, followed by an MRI or CT scan … Read More

You receive a call back after your screening mammogram: now what?

Diagnostic Imaging Services shares this article, courtesy of the American Cancer Society. Most of the time, women getting their routine mammogram will receive a letter within 30 days saying the results were normal. But if doctors find something suspicious, they’ll call you back – usually within just 5 days – to take new pictures or get other tests. Getting that … Read More

Diagnostic Imaging Services added breast biopsy to women’s imaging portfolio

Our Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services (DIS), a leader in southeast Louisiana’s women’s health imaging, is pleased to announce that MRI breast biopsy has been added to our stable of women’s health exams. MRI breast biopsy studies performed at Diagnostic Imaging Services will be done on our 1.2T open MRI scanner. A breast biopsy is performed to remove … Read More

Stereotactic breast biopsy services added at Diagnostic Imaging Services

Our Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services (DIS) has added to their women’s health services portfolio by introducing stereotactic breast biopsy imaging studies to our suite of exams performed at their Women’s & Advanced Imaging Center in Metairie, LA. In order to provide these services, DIS invested in the Hologic Selenia Dimensions System 9000, which in addition to perform … Read More

Would you like to save hundreds of dollars on an imaging exam?

One area woman did exactly that by choosing Capitol Imaging Services over a local New Orleans, LA area hospital. How did she do that? It was easy. She simply picked up the phone and did exactly what we have been touting for years: shop and compare prices for healthcare services, just as most people do when comparing prices for vehicles, … Read More