Many people do not realize that there is a choice when you are told by your medical provider that you need an imaging exam, from an ultrasound to a PET/CT study. There are really three main choices: The hospital imaging center An imaging center owned by the hospital An independent imaging center First, let’s clarify. What does it mean by independent? … 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
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
Many hospital-employed physicians refer people to Capitol Imaging Services
Contrary to what some people may be told, Capitol Imaging Services accepts referral orders for imaging exams from any of the following qualified medical providers: Medical doctors (MD, DO) Nurse practitioners Physician assistants Certified nurse midwives Chiropractors Podiatrists In many cases, these medical professionals are employed by local hospitals and healthy systems. These providers understand the value DIS provides to … Read More
Avoid the surprise of a hospital radiology fee
Consumer frustration with the cost of medical care is at an all-time high as many purchasers of narrow-network, high deductible and high co-pay health plans are finding out that the benefits they get from their monthly insurance premiums are much more limited than they thought. One target of the ire is “surprise” medical bills for services such as radiology that … Read More
Be cautious when evaluating imaging centers
When evaluating based on price, that’s the advice given by a physician who works for a university medical center in New York during a radiology conference held in late 2016. We agree with that advice. However, in looking further into the advice the physician provided, his assumptions were often that “nobody really knows” if lower prices can provide the quality … Read More
The role of the radiologist in health care
Radiologists are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis of disease through interpreting imaging exams. Many patients would be surprised to know that after they get an imaging study, there is a physician behind the scenes who carefully reviews all of their images, and uses the provided clinical history to form a diagnosis! Radiologists interpret radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, nuclear medicine exams, … Read More
Ten good reasons why you should choose Capitol Imaging Services
When you visit your doctor and you get a recommendation for an imaging exam, you’ll receive a referral order, also known as a script. Often, a doctor makes a recommendation on where you should go for the scan. Please be aware that you are not mandated to go where your doctor recommends on the script. You have the right to … Read More
Diagnostic Imaging Services earns ACR accreditation in Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
Our Capitol Imaging Services affiliate, Diagnostic Imaging Services (DIS), and their Women’s & Advanced Imaging Center in Metairie, LA has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). A breast biopsy is performed to remove tissue — either surgically or through a less … Read More
What is BI-RADS?
BI–RADS stands for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System and was established by the American College of Radiology. BI-RADS is a system that was developed by radiologists for reporting mammogram results using a common language. The radiologist assigns a single digit BI-RADS score (ranging from 0 to 5) when the report of your mammogram is created. What does BI-RADS 0 … Read More
What’s the value of nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a safe, painless, and cost-effective way of gathering information that may otherwise be unavailable or require a more expensive and risky diagnostic test. One unique aspect of a nuclear medicine test is its extreme sensitivity to abnormalities in an organ’s structure or function. As an integral part of patient care, nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis, … Read More
What is the function of an imaging test?
Diagnostic imaging lets doctors look inside your body for clues about a medical condition. A variety of machines and techniques can create pictures of the structures and activities inside your body. The type of imaging your doctor uses depends on your symptoms and the part of your body being examined. They include: X-rays CT scans Nuclear medicine scans MRI scans … Read More
Why is a radiologist’s report important?
As outlined by the American College of Radiology, there are over 15 components of a radiology report. The length of the report should have some relationship to the complexity and cost of the exam. It should have pertinent positive and negative findings and address any specific clinical concerns. All important findings need to be stated first and any incidental findings … Read More
What was one physician’s impression of a Capitol Imaging Services radiology report?
When a screening or diagnostic test is done, there are three components involved: The technology: the MRI or CT scanner, the mammography and/or ultrasound system; The technologist: the experienced professional performing the test and capturing the images; The radiologist: the medical doctor who will study the images and issue their findings and impression to the ordering medical professional. The physician’s … Read More