Comfortable and calming environment for patients
University Medical Imaging focuses on providing a comfortable and calming environment for patients. Our consultative services combined with a spa-like atmosphere help anxious patients relax. Each patient has a spacious room with a key to lock their belongings. Our MRI scanning room relaxes patients with a beach scene mural featuring calming ocean waves and palm trees. The MRI scanner is a short bore magnet with wide, flared openings, which helps to reduce patient anxiety.
MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, is the most advanced form of medical diagnostic imaging: doctors can identify areas for treatment or dismiss a medical concern with greater speed and accuracy than ever before. In fact, picture quality using MRI is vastly improved over other techniques such as X-ray or C.T. scans. MRI uses a strong magnet and radiofrequency waves to produce pictures or images of your internal organs, muscles, connective tissue and central nervous system. Because MRI allows our radiologists to see inside your body from any angle with great clarity, it gives your doctor a wealth of information more quickly and more economically than past tests, procedures and exploratory surgeries. While MRI does not use radiation, it offers a painless, non-invasive way to obtain information about your body that can lead to early detection and treatment of disease or injury.
Diagnostic Imaging procedures can vary in length, depending upon the type of exam. MRI ordinarily takes between 20-35 minutes to complete. It is important to lie completely still during portions of the exams known as sequences, since body movements affect the clarity of the image. Movement may make it necessary to do a sequence a second time. Multiple film sequences are taken while you lie still and relaxed on an examination table. The exam table moves in small increments in and out of the scanner.
You may feel air moved by fans and hear operational noises, which are normal. You and your technologist will be able to communicate at all times. If at any time during your exam you experience discomfort, please inform our technologist. Music is available for certain scans. Blankets, pillows and eye masks are provided upon request, as scanning rooms are kept at cool temperatures to accommodate required equipment specifications.
Once the exam is complete, our board certified radiologist professionally interprets your images, and a report is provided to your doctor, usually within 24 hours. Your doctor will contact you to discuss the results.
No special preparation is needed except for certain types of abdominal or pelvic exams. Most patients can eat their normal diet and take their routine medications. For all imaging procedures, plan to wear comfortable clothing. You may be asked to change into medical scrubs if your clothing contains zippers, snaps, or other metals that interfere with the imaging process. No metal objects are allowed in the exam room. You are asked to leave behind most jewelry, body-piercing jewelry, hairpins, glasses, non-permanent dentures and credit cards. Secured dressing suites are provided for your convenience, though we recommend leaving valuables at home. Eye make-up should be removed before a procedure, as some cosmetics contain metallic substances that can interfere with the procedure.
Imaging procedures are non-invasive and generally safe. If any of the following exist, however, the patient must inform imaging center staff, as special preparations may be required.
- Surgery to area
- Liver transplant or plans to have one
- Kidney problems
- Beta blocker
- Metallic fragments in eyes
- Stent
- Surgical or aneurysm clips
- Silicon or plastic implants
- Cardiac pacemaker or heart valves
- Prosthesis implant or limb
- Diabetes
- Removable dentures
- Breastfeeding
- Implanted cardioverter defibrillator
- Pregnant or think you may be
- Electronic or magnetic implant or device
- Allergies to Medication
- Claustrophobia