How to Discuss Medical Costs

The headline is from a published article in Consumer Reports and written by a physician. She offers sound advice on what to say and what to ask, given the health care climate of continual rising deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. The insight is valuable and people should feel comfortable and confident in bringing up the subject of medical cost. You’re not … Read More

MRI Sticker Shock

Even though this is not a story from our area, it still holds relevance not only in the greater New Orleans area, but in the southeastern United States as well as the entire country. This story is from a public radio news reporter in Boston, Massachusetts who needed to undergo an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. The reporter did call … Read More

2D VS 3D Mammography

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women in the United States are told by their medical provider that they have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Every year, breast cancer takes the lives of tens of thousands of women. When breast cancer is detected early – before it has spread – it is easier to treat. Women have a much better chance … Read More

Know Your CPT Codes

Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) has long touted the encouragement for people to inquire and know about the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code that pertains to a medical exam, procedure or service that they are recommended to have. However, other national resources are also recommending this to people as healthcare consumers. You have the right to know this code and with … Read More

Understanding Bone Spurs

If you or someone you know has had knee pain and after their diagnostic testing, they received a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, you may be more familiar with the term “osteophytes” or as their more common name, “bone spurs.” Bone spurs have been defined as “abnormal bony lumps that appear on the surface of joints that have suffered some degree of … Read More

Shopping for Imaging Studies

Become an educated consumer. Take ownership in your health care dollar and understand why you were referred to one place over another. Ask your doctor if he or she is required by his or her employer or financially incentivized to send you to a particular medical facility for testing. Look up your imaging study. There are numerous websites that provide estimates … Read More

Movement During MRI

Movement During MRI

FREEZE! Hold still during your Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam. Did you know that even the slightest movement during your exam can compromise your MRI picture? Motion can affect nearly every modality of radiology, but none so much as MRI. This is because the machine is taking images of your body in such detail, that when a patient moves even … Read More

Why Measure Bone Density?

We’ve all heard that bone density is crucial to good health. But at what age should you get tested for bone loss? And what’s the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis, anyway? Osteoporosis and osteopenia, conditions of low bone mass leading to an increased risk of bone fracture, are extremely common in women, especially after menopause when bone loss is accelerated. Low … Read More

Paying for Imaging

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

Breast Lumps Need Evaluation

Finding a lump in your breast can be a scary thing, but is it something you should worry about? Patients often worry that lumps in their breasts could be early signs of breast cancer. Sometimes a lumpy breast can be mistaken as being cancerous. The important thing is to know you breasts and understand your own normal. No one will … Read More

Understanding Computed Tomography

A CT scan uses a computer that takes data from several X-ray images of structures inside a human body and converts them into pictures on a monitor. CT stands for computerized tomography. Tomography is the process of generating a 2-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object. Similar to looking at one slice of bread within the … Read More

MRI Exams of the Spine

For non-medical people wondering about specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exams of the spine, it’s pretty simple: When examining the spine in the neck, that is an MRI of the cervical spine For a closer look at the spine in the upper back area, that is an MRI of the thoracic spine To acquire images of the lower spine and back, that is … Read More

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

Breast MRI Imaging

Capitol Imaging Services shares information about an advanced imaging exam we perform as part of our portfolio of women’s imaging services: breast MRI. MRI of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging but rather a supplemental tool that has many important uses, including: Screening in women at high risk for breast cancer. Determining the extent of … Read More

Preparing for Imaging Exam

Screening and diagnostic testing has become a very important component in health care, thanks to the advances in technology and how test results often dictate a diagnosis or treatment of various conditions and diseases. Testing can cause confusion and anxiety in a number of people. Much of the time, it is because of the “fear of the unknown.” The better … Read More

Florida Physician refers to CIS

Why does a physician in Florida refer all of her patients to Capitol Imaging Services? Because, in her opinion, it is due to the excellent patient care and attention from our associates to people she sends to one of our network affiliates for their imaging exam. How excellent and personal? Florida-based Homosassa Open MRI had a person arrive in front … Read More

Utilize your HSA or FSA funds

Capitol Imaging Services provides a reminder that in virtually all cases, monies from a qualified high deductible health plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can be used for imaging exam fees that are not covered 100 percent by insurance. This also includes certain cancer screenings such as breast (mammogram), lung (CT low-dose lung cancer … Read More

Save Money on Medical Imaging

Medical imaging is one area of healthcare in which people can truly save money. It’s due to one simple fact. Entities within medical imaging that are not owned by hospitals and health systems offer list prices and fees that are much, much less than behemoth hospitals. Numerous articles have been published on the subject, citing example after example of the … Read More

CareCredit Healthcare Credit Card

Capitol Imaging Services has produced a short presentation that highlights the important points of the CareCredit healthcare financing program. With CareCredit, people can have assistance in paying for healthcare expenses, such as imaging exams, and spread those payments over six months with no interest being charged. CareCredit can also be used to pay for deductibles and co-payments. View our video … Read More

Why Have a Breast MRI?

Guidelines from the American Cancer Society do include screening MRI with mammography for certain high-risk women. This option should be considered for the following: Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (BRCA1 is a gene, which, when altered, indicates an inherited susceptibility to cancer. BRCA2 is a gene, which, when altered, indicates an inherited susceptibility to breast and/or ovarian cancer.) Women … Read More

What is a radiologist?

Radiologists are medical doctors (MDs) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound. Radiologists graduate from accredited medical schools, pass a licensing examination, and then go on to complete a residency … Read More

Breast biopsy: what to know

If you find a lump or a change in your breast is seen on a mammogram, a biopsy may be needed to know what’s causing it. A biopsy is when a piece of tissue is taken out and tested in the lab. A biopsy is the only way to know if a suspicious breast change is cancer. The American Cancer Society … Read More

MRI scan

MRI Scan

MRI ScanAn MRI scan is a noninvasive, safe way for healthcare professionals to examine a patient’s organs, tissues, and skeletal system. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is diagnostic technology that uses a powerful magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed, 3D images of the organs and tissues of the body that can be viewed from many different angles. … Read More

Arm yourself and know your CPT code

Arm yourself with an important piece of information for a medical service — the CPT code. CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology, which is used universally across all medical and health providers.  With this code, you can contact multiple providers in order to better compare costs BEFORE you have any service done. Take control. It’s your money. It’s your health … Read More

What is global billing?

There are many confusing terms surrounding healthcare, healthcare services and health insurance coverage. Numerous different options can often put someone’s head in a spin as they try to grasp with bills and statements from medical provider offices, hospitals and medical centers. One term that Capitol Imaging Services often uses and can be considered to be a major financial benefit to … Read More

Learn more about CT scans

A computerized tomography (CT) scan is a type of medical imaging test that combines several different x-rays to produce cross-sectional images. Your physician may advise you to undergo a CT scan for a variety of reasons. CT scans are helpful for evaluating soft tissues and bones, which means they may be used to diagnose bone tumors, fractures, heart disease and … Read More

The difference between CT and MRI

CT (Computed Tomography) scans and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) 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 and MRI scans. The use of radiation CT uses x-ray technology to produce diagnostic images. These x-rays require a small dose of … 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

What is a Pars fracture?

A person visited Capitol Imaging Services due to experiencing low back and right leg pain. They also had a previous medical history of lumbar spine surgery. In this particular instance, the medical provider recommended a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan that was part of a specialty nuclear medicine Image Merge study in which the two imaging techniques, CT and nuclear medicine, … Read More

Be a smart shopper on health care

The bane of any purchaser is not knowing enough about the purchase opportunity. We try hard to understand the relationship between price and what we’re getting. Nowhere is this bane more pronounced than in our relationship with our health care system. There are many ways we interface with it: Emergencies — where we ask no questions and simply plead to … Read More

What is radiculopathy?

If anyone has ever heard of this term in their discussion with their physician or health care provider, or has been examined/treated by a neurologist, Capitol Imaging Services would like to shed some light on what this condition is about. Radiculopathy is a disorder or disease of nerve roots that enter or leave the spine. Nerve roots are the lowest … 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

How Does MRI Work?

MRI is short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a procedure used in imaging centers to scan patients and determine the severity of certain injuries. An MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body. Common reasons people go in to get an MRI are for a sprained ankle or back pain. What should I do … Read More

What is facet arthrosis?

Each vertebra in the spinal column has a pair of facet joints, which acts as a flexible multi-directional hinge. The facet joints are located on the spine’s posterior column, or the rear of our backs. Facet arthrosis is a degenerative spinal condition like arthritis in which bony enlargements, called osteophytes or bone spurs, grow and enlarge the facet joints. Facet … Read More

What is a hysterosalpingogram?

A hysterosalpingogram is an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes which allows visualization of the inside of the uterus and tubes. The picture will reveal any abnormalities of the uterus as well as tubal problems such as blockage and dilation (hydrosalpinx). If sterilization reversal is planned, the point at which the tubes are blocked can be seen. This helps … Read More

The sounds of MRI

Those of us who work at Capitol Imaging Services are often asked by people, particularly those who have never had an MRI before, “I’ve heard that lots of different sounds are made by the machine. Is that true?” Yes, that is true. The sounds are made by the banging is the vibration of metal coils in the machine caused by … 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

Breast cancer: symptoms and treatment

Capitol Imaging Services shares an informative three-minute presentation on the most common forms of cancer in women. In this video, an explanation of what cancer is and how it can develop in the breasts is provided. A description of different symptoms that are possible signs for breast cancer and the risk factors associated with this disease are also included. Capitol Imaging Services offers … Read More

Learn more about breast ultrasound

Capitol Imaging Services provides information about an exam commonly performed as part of our women’s imaging portfolio: breast ultrasound. Ultrasound is safe and painless, and produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. During a breast ultrasound examination the sonographer performing the test may use Doppler techniques to evaluate blood flow or lack of flow in any … Read More

Can I get access to my medical records?

Numerous times throughout the year, Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) receives requests from both people and medical providers for their medical records. Our crackerjack medical records team works to quickly turn around each request, provided the correct information and paperwork is provided. There is another faster, easier way to access your medical records. That way is by using the Capitol Imaging … Read More

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been defined as a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body. A blood clot is a clump of blood that’s turned to a solid state. Deep vein blood clots typically form in your thigh or lower leg, but they can also develop in other areas … Read More

What is disc desiccation?

In some radiology test results for a diagnostic exam such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine (i.e. the lower back), one condition that may be diagnosed and reported on by the radiologist is what is known as disc desiccation. Disc desiccation can be very painful. In short, disc desiccation is fluid loss in the cushion-like discs between … Read More

Why would I undergo a 3T MRI?

Capitol Imaging Services (CIS) offers some reasons that work to answer the question, “why would a doctor specify a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on a 3T ultra-high field scanner?” The increased magnet strength gives us many benefits at no additional expense. 3T MRI is an advanced scanner, producing clearer images and more accurate diagnoses. 3T MRI helps doctors see abnormalities … Read More

What you should know about ultrasound

Most people have heard of ultrasound and associate this common imaging procedure with pregnancy. What many people don’t realize is that ultrasounds can be used to detect a wide variety of medical issues. Actually, ultrasound is an imaging technology that is very diverse, having uses and applications for a variety of health and medical conditions outside of pregnancy. Ultrasound: the … Read More

An explanation of MRI during pregnancy

Courtesy of the American College of Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a four-minute presentation that is especially pertinent to women who are pregnant and are recommended to undergo an MRI. In general, doctors try to delay treating a medical problem, if possible, until after pregnancy. Therefore, if your doctor orders an MRI during your pregnancy, he/she is trying to address … Read More

Hear their stories. Share yours.

Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a powerful message courtesy of the Estee Lauder Companies. We recommend having a tissue or handkerchief nearby. The dialogue is emotional and compelling.

What does not cause breast cancer

Over the years, many factors have been studied to see whether or not they increase the risk of breast cancer. Some of these factors have been proven to be unrelated to breast cancer and do not increase (or in some cases, decrease) risk. A full list of these factors is too long to present here. Some, however, deserve mention here … Read More