Where: |  | You will report to Admitting in the front lobby of Daviess Community Hospital. You will then be directed to the Radiology waiting room. |
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Purpose : | | MRI is a scanning technique that allows your doctor to see areas of your body without the use of x-rays. With a large magnet and radio frequencies, we can provide detailed images of internal body structures. MRI is considered an extremely safe procedure for most people, but because of the high magnetic field and radio frequencies there are some people who cannot have an MRI.
YOU CANNOT HAVE AN MRI IF YOU:
IF YOU HAVE A PACEMAKER, CARDIAC DEFIBILLATOR, OR NEUROSTIMULATOR.
IF YOU HAVE CEREBRAL ANEURYSM CLIPS, contact the implanting physician to make sure it is safe for you to have an MRI.
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, OR HAVE ANY OTHER TYPE OF BIPMEDICAL IMPLANT, please inform us at (812) 254-8851, because the MRI exam may not be possible. Also tell us if you have had any brain, eye, ear, or other surgery.
IF YOU EVER HAD EXPOSURE TO METAL FRAGMENTS IN OR AROUND THE EYES, or work with metal such as arc-welding, grinding, drilling metal, tool and die work, please contact us.
IF YOU ARE CLAUSTROPHOBIC (fear of enclosed places). You may discuss with your physician if oral medication is necessary and should be obtained from your physician prior to MRI. MRI cannot prescribe oral sedatives.
IF YOU WEIGHT OVER 300 LBS, please call us at (812) 254-8851. Maximum weight limit for this unit is 350 lbs. |
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Preparation: | | BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: MRI operates 8 AM to 4 PM so make sure you are arriving at the correct time of day. Bring referrals and insurance information along with your prescription or request slip. If you have had studies (CT scans, x-rays, MRI or ultrasound) done at other hospitals it is very helpful if you could bring them so that we could better interpret and plan your MRI examination. Please plan on arriving 30 minutes before your examination. If you do not arrive on time it is possible that we may need to reschedule your study for another day.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE: The receptionist will ask you to fill out the MRI data sheet/ questionnaire. For your safety, you will be asked questions concerning implants and metals by technologists and physicians. You will also be asked to remove ALL jewelry, watches, hair clips, dentures, glasses and hearing aides. It may be easiest if you wear as few of these items as possible. You will be asked to place all items including your credit cards and wallet into a locker and change into a patient gown. |
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Procedure: | | The MRI technologist will help you on the scan table and position you for the exam. The table will slide into a cylinder shaped unit. There is an intercom system so that you can hear and talk to the technologist who is operating the scanner. During the exam you will hear a knocking sound, which is when you need to hold perfectly still. The study takes 30-60 minutes depending on the type of scan required. The scan is very sensitive to motion. If you move even a little during the scan, the entire scan may need to be repeated.
CONTRAST
Certain exams may need an injection of contrast material (Gadolinium) to better visualize the area of interest. This requires an intravenous injection towards the end of the procedure. |
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After Care: | | A radiologist will review your MRI examination. A radiologist is a physician who specializes in diagnoses by various imaging techniques. The radiologist reports the results to your physician, who will then discuss findings with you. Films and reports can be obtained from the Radiology Film Library –(215) 662-3058/3059.
Please call (812) 254-8851 to speak to a technologist about any questions or concerns. |
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Reviewed: | | 02/11/2013 |