Patient Education | Diagnostic Imaging

Our scheduling staff will contact the hospital by facsimile after reviewing your insurance coverage and obtaining necessary information from your physician.   The hospital will review the information we send and will make the first available appointment for your test.   The hospital will notify our office by fax of the appointment date and time.   Many tests can be performed 24 hours a day--flexibility in your schedule may mean a sooner scheduled appointment.   Once we have received your appointment information we will contact you by telephone AND by mail.   You will receive an instruction sheet in the mail with specific directions for the facility where your test has been scheduled.

If you are a member of a managed care insurance , other than Priority Health, you will need to call your primary care physician (PCP) to obtain authorization for this test, once it is scheduled.   You will need to tell your PCP's office the date and location of your test.

Priority Health Members

As of April 1, 2005, Priority Health insurance is requiring preauthorization for all medical testing.   Please expect a slight delay while Priority Health reviews your information and authorizes the test.   When we receive the authorization, we are then able to contact the hospital for an appointment.   It may take 3-5 days for the authorization from Priority Health.

Workers Compensation

If you have Workers Compensation insurance, our office must first obtain authorization for your test from the Workers Compensation insurance carrier. This can cause a delay in scheduling your appointment.

Our scheduling staff are available Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 4:30pm.   Please feel free to call with any questions or concerns.   They can be reached at 616.774.0440 ext. 5.

MRI

• MRI scanning uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of the body.
• MRI is painless and does not involve x-ray radiation, however some patients can experience problems with claustrophobia.
• Patients with heart pacemakers, metal implants, or metal chips in their eyes cannot be scanned.
• Patients may eat and take daily medications as normal.

CAT scan

• CAT scanning uses x-ray radiation and a computer to generate cross-section views (slices) of your body.
• CAT scans are quick and painless, however, please inform the tech if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
• Sometimes there is preparation for a CAT scan; it is different for each type of test.
• You will be notified by the hospital of any changes to your diet or medication that may be required.

Ultrasound

• Ultrasound uses sound waves to visualize specific body parts.
• No x-ray radiation is used in ultrasound.
• There are specific instructions for preparing for different types of ultrasound.
• You will be notified of any changes to your diet or medication that may be required.
• Ultrasound is noninvasive and usually painless.

Bone scan

• A bone scan is a nuclear medicine procedure which uses a radioactive dye injected into the arm to evaluate the bone.
• Bone scans are done in two parts: an injection is given first, followed by a scan three-to-four hours later.
• Patients may eat and take daily medications as normal.
• If you are pregnant, or think you may be, please inform the technologist.