FAQs for Patients
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Description text goes hereThere is no preparation required for most MRI studies. For any MRI abdomen or Pelvis studies, patients should fast 4 hours prior to the appointment. Medications can be taken with minimal amounts of water.
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- Please be sure to arrive on time for your exam. This is very important
- Upon your arrival, you will be given an MRI screening form to complete to ensure it is safe for you to enter the MRI suite. It is important that this information is as accurate as possible.
- Please expect to be asked to change into scrubs
- Piercings will need to be removed if present within the body area being scanned and must be nonmagnetic.
- Be sure to inform the MRI technologist of any chance of pregnancy and if you have any tattoos.
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Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the time the exam is scheduled. You will be given a specific time to arrive for your exam
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MRI exams take 20 to 60 minutes. It may take more, or less, time depending on what part of the body is being studied.
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Yes. An MRI exam is composed of a series of images. Each series takes 2 to 5 minutes. Any movement during this time causes the pictures to be "blurry" and limits the radiologist's ability to interpret the study. Also, we focus the exam on a specific part of the body. If you move, the area we are focusing on may no longer be in the proper position.
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Yes you can! Even if it’s a head MRI.
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The MRI exam itself should cause no pain however, because the patient is required to stay motionless for short periods of time, some discomfort may result. Occasionally patients may feel warmth in the area being scanned. If this becomes uncomfortable or extreme, the patient should inform the technologist immediately.
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Most people who have metal in their body after surgery can have an MRI. For example, patients with hip or knee replacements can have an MRI after surgery, though some implanted devices require some time after surgery.
Certain devices can never go into the MRI machine. Heart pacemakers (unless MRI safe), and some implanted pumps and nerve stimulators cannot go, or require specific conditions to go, in the MRI scanner. Some brain aneurysm clips (particularly older ones) might not go into the scanner. We would need more specific information: type, where and when the clip was placed.
If you have had any prior surgery, you must let the technologist know prior to the scan. Also, if there is any chance there may be metal in any part of your body from a prior injury or from grinding metal, please inform the scheduler at the time of booking and the technologist prior to the scan.
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MRI uses no radiation. The basic components of MRI are a strong magnetic field and a brief pulse of a radio frequency. There are no known side effects related to MRI. Since there is a strong magnetic field however, people with certain devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, aneurysm clips and certain cochlear implants must NOT enter the MRI room.
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The contrast used in MRI is not the same as in CT. Conventional radiologic exams use contrast that frequently contain iodine. MRI uses gadolinium, a rare earth metal like iron. It is very rare that a patient will have a reaction. There is always a physician on site in the rare event of an allergic reaction.
FAQs for Physicians
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- After receiving the Referral Form from you, your patient will be contacted within days to arrange an appointment.
- Patients can expect an appointment for routine exams within 2 business days.
- A report will be sent to your office within 2 business days following your patient's examination.
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All patients seen at our center will require a referral form from a physician to ensure proper follow up. While most generic MRI referral forms are accepted you may also download and print our Referral Form in PDF format.
Fax the referral into us at 819-420-0134. As soon as the completed form has been received, we will obtain the appropriate protocol from our radiologist based on the clinical information provided. We will then contact the patient to book the appointment, answer any questions, and explain the general process within 24 hours of receiving the referral.
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St-Joseph MRI and Ottawa Valley MRI are excited to announce that we no longer release imaging records via CD and provide imaging records to care providers through secure, online access!
An Access Page can be faxed directly to a care provider by our facility or provided to a patient at the time of their visit to be delivered to their physician. Once an Access Page has been received, the care provider can easily view or download the shared imaging in full diagnostic quality.