FAQ
General Patient FAQ
Most exams will require you to change into scrubs or a gown depending on the area being scanned and the type of imaging being performed. This is to ensure patient safety and that there are no artifacts or shadows affecting the diagnostic quality of the images. Please note a lot of athletic apparel has metallic threads that react with the MRI Magnet. Keyed lockers will be provided for secure storage of your clothing and valuables.
Medical Records & Results of Exam FAQ
Your results are provided by our Radiologist physicians and communicated to your physician(s) within 24-48 hours. It is very important for your physician to compare our Radiologist conclusions with his or her clinical findings to present you with a complete diagnosis. We encourage our patients to enroll in the Providence St Joseph Health “My Chart” program, which provides secure sharing of healthcare information.
Yes. HIPAA regulations prevent us from mailing your images and/or report to your home. You will need to fill out a release form and pick up a copy of your images in person with a photo ID. For your convenience, we offer a secure cloud-based portal, AMBRA, where you can access your images via e-mail. Please contact our medical records department at 503-216-0669 for more details.
We maintain images and reports from your exam(s) in accordance with state laws, in most cases, for a minimum of five to seven years.
Radiologists & Technologists FAQ
A radiologist is a medical doctor who has chosen to specialize in the field of Diagnostic Medical imaging for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. After completing an internship, a radiologist undergoes an additional four or more years of specialized training in medical imaging. The most important task of a radiologist is to interpret the images and data from your procedure and combine that information with the clinical findings of your doctor. We commonly refer to this process as a “reading” or exam interpretation. The goal of the reading is to provide your physician with a clearer understanding of what is happening inside your body.
An imaging technologist is a healthcare professional specially trained, licensed and nationally accredited to operate various forms of diagnostic imaging equipment and safely provide high-quality diagnostic images and exams to patients. After careful review, the technologist submits each exam to our Radiologists for interpretation. Our CMI technologists are patient advocates and go the extra mile to ensure patient comfort under challenging scenarios and circumstances.