Imaging Services

Mammography 

Early detection saves lives. The earlier breast cancer is caught, the better change for successful treatment. Our mammography services will provide our female patients with the best tool for early diagnosis, giving patients a much better chance of survival and leading a long, productive life.  Our facility is accredited by the ACR for imaging services. ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report that can be used for continuous practice improvement.

Accreditation Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about radiation safety?
Before your imaging procedure be sure to ask your physician the following questions:

• Why is the test needed?
• How will having the test improve my care?
• Are there alternatives that do not use radiation and deliver similar results?
• Is the facility accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR)?
• Are pediatric and adult tests delivered using the appropriate radiation doses?

Why should I have my imaging exam done at an accredited facility?
When you see the gold seals of accreditation prominently displayed in our imaging facility, you can be sure that you are in a facility that meets standards for imaging quality and safety. Look for the ACR Gold Seals of Accreditation.

To achieve the ACR Gold Standard of Accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance, and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications. It’s important for patients to know that every aspect of the ACR accreditation process is overseen by board-certified, expert radiologists and medical physicists in advanced diagnostic imaging.

What does ACR accreditation mean?

• Our facility has voluntarily gone through a vigorous review process to ensure that we meet nationally-accepted standards of care.
• Our personnel are well qualified, through education and certification, to perform mdical imaging, interpret your images, and administer your radiation therapy treatments.
• Our equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment you will receive, and our facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.

What does the gold seal mean?
When you see the ACR gold seal, you can rest assured that your prescribed imaging test will be done at a facility that has met the highest level of imaging quality and radiation safety. The facility and its personnel have gone through a comprehensive review to earn accreditation status by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the largest and oldest imaging accrediting body in the U.S. and a professional organization of 34,000 physicians.

Ultra-sound 

Our trained sonographer will make sure you are well taken care of during the ultra-sound process. An ultra-sound does not use radiation but instead echoes sound waves throughout your body to produce an image. Our ultra-sound services are useful for many parts of the body. For example, a breast ultrasound could be used to examine a mass in the breast tissue while an obstetrical ultrasound monitors the development of the fetus with our OB/GYN department.  

During the exam: 

-A jelly-like substance will be applied to the area of the body that will receive the ultrasound services. This substance helps us conduct sound waves within the body.  

-The sonographer will move the transducer that sends out ultrasound waves in that area of the body.  

-The sound from the transducer will produce the sound information that is analyzed and transformed into a readable image.  

X-ray 

Our x-ray scans use external radiation to develop images of the body, its organs, and other internal structures to diagnose bone injuries, tumors and other disorders in the chest, musculoskeletal system, and abdomen.  

During the exam: 

-You will be asked to remove any clothing or jewelry that might interfere with the exam. A gown will be worn if clothing must be removed.  

-You will sit or lie down on the x-ray table before the exam begins. A lead apron (shield) will be used on body parts that do not need to be imaged to avoid x-ray exposure.  

-While sitting still, the x-ray beam will photograph the needed area.  

-Various angles may be photographed if necessary for diagnosis.  

Warning: Radiation during pregnancy may lead to birth defects. Always tell your radiographer or physician if you suspect you may be pregnant.