FAQ'S
How do I schedule a medical imaging procedure?
How far does a claimant need to drive for their appointment?
Does Diagnostics Plus contact the physician, adjustor, case manager and the claimant?
Procedures
How do I schedule a medical imaging procedure?
It's easy! You can now choose one of 3 ways to schedule a procedure!
- CLICK HERE to conveniently schedule a procedure online
- CLICK HERE to download our scheduling form in PDF or WORD formats and either fax it back toll free
1-877- 674-7588 or e-mail it to us.
- Or simply call us at 1-800-996-1997
How far does a claimant need to drive for their appointment?
We usually schedule the claimant within 20 miles of the claimant's home or workplace.
Does Diagnostics Plus contact the physician, adjustor, case manager and the claimant?
Absolutely! We call the claimant, physician, adjustor, and case manager. We confirm the appointment and keep the adjustor and case manager informed on how the scheduling process is proceeding. There is no need for you to schedule (and reschedule) patient's diagnostic exams.
ESI
An ESI is an Epidural Steroid Injection which is a common treatment option for many forms of low back pain and leg pain. An ESI is an integral part of the non-surgical management of sciatica and low back pain. The goal of the injection is pain relief; at times the injection alone is sufficient to provide relief.
While the effects of the injection tend to be temporary, providing relief from pain for one week to one year, an ESI can be very beneficial for a patient during an acute episode of back and/or leg pain or help with a comprehensive rehabilitation program. If the injection is effective for a patient, he or she may have up to three in a one year time frame.
Arthrogram
An arthrogram is a test using x-rays to obtain a series of pictures of a joint after a contrast material (such as dye, water, air or a combination of these) has been injected into the joint. This allows the doctor to see the soft tissue structures of your joint, such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, cartilage, and your joint capsule. These structures are not seen on a plain x-ray without contrast material. A special type of x-ray, called fluoroscopy, is used to take pictures of the joint.
An arthrogram is used to check a joint to find out what is causing the symptoms of problem with the joint. A regular x-ray only shows the bones of the joint. An arthrogram can be done on the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or jaw.
Bone Scan
A bone scan is a nuclear scanning test that identifies new areas of bone growth or breakdown. It can be done to evaluate damage to the bones, detect cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the bones, and monitor conditions that can affect the bones (including infections and trauma). A bone scan can often detect a problem day to months earlier than a regular x-ray.
For a bone scam a radioactive tracer substance is injected into a vein in the arm. The tracer then travels through the bloodstream and into the bones. A special gamma camera takes pictures of the tracer in the bones. This helps show cell activity and function in the bones. It will show “cold spots” or “hot spots” depending on what the problem is with the bones. Hot spots may indicate the presence of a tumor, a fracture, or an infection. The cold spots may indicate a lack of blood supply to the bone or the presence of certain types of cancer.
A bone scan may be done on the entire body or just a part of the body.
Discogram
A discogram is an enhanced x-ray examination of the intervertebral discs of the spine performed by a radiologist. A liquid contrasting agent (a special dye) is injected into the disc or series of discs. This dye makes the disc visible on x-ray film.
This test is used to determine which disc has structural damage and whether it is causing pain. A discogram can show if a disc has begun to rupture and if it had tears in the tough outer ring (the annulus). By injecting fluid into the disc to increase pressure, the radiologists can tell if it is painful. This type of structural damage is a primary cause of pain within a damaged disc.
Myelogram
A myelogram, also known as myelography, is a diagnostic imaging procedure performed by a radiologist. A myelogram uses special dye (contrast material) and x-rays (fluoroscopy) to make pictures of the bones and the fluid-filled space (subarachnoid space) between the bones in the spine (spinal canal). A myelogram may be done to find a tumor, an infection, problems with the spine such as herniated disc, or narrowing of the spinal canal caused by arthritis.
CT
Computed Tomography (CT or “CAT” Scan) scanning is a rapid, painless diagnostic examination that combines x-rays and computers. A CT Scan allows the radiologist to see the location, nature and extent of many different diseases or abnormalities inside your body. CT scanning can be used to obtain information about almost any body organ (such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands, lung, and heart),blood vessels, the abdominal cavity, bones, and the spinal cord.
An iodine dye (contrast material) is often used to make structures and organs easier to see on the CT pictures. The dye may be used to check blood flow, find tumors, and look for other problems. The dye can be used in different ways. It may be put in a vein (IV) in your arm, or it may be placed into other parts of your body (such as the rectum or a joint) to see those areas better. For some types of CT scans you drink the dye. CT pictures may be taken before and after the dye is used.
PET/CT
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a way to create pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of radioactive substance is injected into a patient’s body and absorbed by the organs or tissues being studied. This substance gives off energy that is detected by a scanner, which produces the images.
A PET scan is often used to complement information gathered from a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or physical examination. An integrated PET-CT scan collects images from both PET and CT scans at the same time and superimposes the images.
MRI
An MRI, (magnetic resonance imaging), scan uses magnetic and radio waves to perform the scan. The patient lies inside a large, cylinder-shaped magnet. Radio waves are then sent through the body. This affects the body’s atoms, as they move back into place they send off radio waves of their own. This scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture.
Using a MRI scanner, it is possible to make pictures of almost all of the tissue in the body. Because the MRI scan gives very detailed pictures it is the best technique when it comes to finding tumors (benign or malignant abnormal growths) in the brain.
The MRI scan is also able to show both the heart and the large blood vessels in the surrounding tissue. This makes it possible to detect heart defects that have been building up since birth, as well as changes in the thickness of the muscles around the heart following a heart attack. The MRI can also be used to examine the joints, spine and sometimes the soft parts of the patient’s body such as the liver, kidneys and spleen.
EMG/NCV
EMG stands for electromyography and NCV stands for nerve conduction velocity. When combined this is a sensitive test for nerve injuries. This test is commonly used to detect problems such as pinched nerves in your neck or back, carpal tunnel syndrome, and generalized nerve injuries or muscle diseases. This test should only be performed by physicians trained as experts in electrodiagnostics.
Patients are being sent for electromyography (EMG) testing because they may have numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or muscle cramping. Some of the tests the EMG doctor may use to diagnose the patient’s symptoms are nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle EMG. The EMG doctor will examine the patient to decide which tests to do based on the patient’s symptoms.
Venous Doppler
A Doppler ultrasound study is a test which uses sound waves to examine the structures inside the body and to evaluate blood flow at the same time. With this test problems with the veins can be detected. The patient will not hear the sound waves as they are far above the range of human hearing. Radiation is not used in this test.
For most Doppler exams there is no preparation involved. When the patient goes in for the exam they will be asked to lie on their back with their head slightly elevated. A gel will be spread on the arms or legs of the area to be examined. A hand-held instrument, called a transducer, which looks like a microphone, is used in the test. It sends and receives silent, high frequency sound waves. The arm or leg may need to be lightly squeezed at various times, to check for the flow of blood in the vein.
The transducer sends sound waves that pass through the skin into the body. They are then reflected back to the transducer by the internal organs. It is these sound waves that contain information that is changed in to a picture of the area being examined. The picture of the image is recorded and interpreted by a radiologist. There is no discomfort to the patient during this test.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (as with x-rays).
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. The examination can help to diagnose a variety of conditions and to assess organ damage following an illness.
Depending on which part of the body that needs to be examined there will be different preparation such as not eating for 12 hours prior to the exam or you may have to drink up to six glasses of water to fill up the bladder. Then the patient will most likely be asked to lie down face up and a clear water-based gel is applied to the area of the body that is being examined. The transducer is then used to send the sound waves through the body to make an image that is recorded and read by a radiologist.
MRA
Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA) is a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body. In many cases MRA can provide information that cannot be obtained from an x-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan.
MRA can find problems with the blood vessels that may be causing reduced blood flow. With MRA, both the blood flow and the condition of the blood vessel walls can be seen. The test is often used to look at the blood vessels that go to the brain, kidneys, and legs. Information from an MRA can be saved and stored on a computer for further study. Photographs of selected views can also me made.
During a MRA, the area of the body being studied is placed inside an MRI machine. Contrast material is often used during a MRA to make the blood vessels show up more clearly.
Nerve Root Block
A nerve root block is an injection into the sheath surrounding a nerve root in the spine to decrease pain temporarily and to define it more precisely. The exam uses therapeutic steroid and local anesthetic (a numbing medication) to decrease pain and inflammation. Pain relief from the procedure varies from minimal to long-term, depending on the specific symptoms.
The patient must have symptoms present for this procedure to be effective. If the patient is not experiencing symptoms prior to the procedure, please reschedule the appointment when the patient’s symptoms return.
The patient will remain awake throughout the procedure. A radiologist will use a thin needle to place anesthetic and steroid (anti-inflammatory medication) into the nerve sheath. There may be some discomfort from the needle position but for most patients this is minor. The radiologist will check the needle position using an x-ray-guidance. Contrast material is placed into the nerve sheath to document the needle position and x-rays are taken. During the injection the patient may feel pressure or pain. The radiologist will want to know how this discomfort compares to the patient’s usual pain symptoms.
BUN & Creatinine Screening
A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the waste product urea. Urea is made when protein is broken down in your body. Urea is made in the liver and passed out of your body in the urine.
A BUN test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. If your kidneys are not able to remove urea from the blood normally, your BUN level rises. Heart failure, dehydration, or a diet high in protein can also make your BUN level higher. Liver disease or damage can lower your BUN level. A low BUN level can occur normally in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
A BUN test may be done with a blood creatinine test. The level of creatinine in your blood also tells how well your kidneys are working; a high creatinine level may mean your kidneys are not working properly. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine tests can be used together to find the BUN-to-creatinine ratio (BUN: creatinine). A BUN-to-creatinine ratio can help your doctor check for problems, such as dehydration, that may cause abnormal BUN and creatinine levels.
Mammography
Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine the breast. An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical condition. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.
Digital mammography, also called full-field digital mammography (FFDM), is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals, similar to those found in digital cameras.
The computer-aided detection (CAD) systems use a digitized mammographic image that can be obtained from either a conventional film mammogram or a digitally acquired mammogram. The CAD system highlights the abnormal areas of density, mass or calcification that alerts the radiologist of the need for further analysis.
X-Ray
An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
A bone x-ray makes images of any bone in the body to help with diagnosing broken bones or joint dislocation. It is also used to look for injury, infection, arthritis, abnormal bone growths and bony changes seen in metabolic conditions. It also assists in the detection and diagnosis of bone cancer and locating foreign objects in soft tissues around or in the bone.
Typically there is no special preparation required and a bone x-ray examination is a painless procedure.
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