RBC I Radiology is often a misunderstood science — and art.
Definitely, radiology is a highly evolved science and important diagnostic tool in medicine. It provides a valuable insight into our bodies and how they function. We rely upon radiology tests as the basis of many healthcare decisions. Radiology utilizes very advanced medical technology and strict standards of practice to ensure exams are accurate and of the highest quality.
Did you know every radiologist is a trained physician who earned either an M.D. or D.O. degree through years of extensive medical school and residency?
Some people don’t realize that all radiology exams are reviewed and interpreted by a radiologist, no matter where you get your exam. There is no exception to this rule. At Pioneers Medical Center, all our exams are read by a radiologist at Mountain Radiology.
At the same time, I mention the “art” of radiology because the experience of the technologist who actually performs your exam can greatly help the patient experience – from keeping a patient calm so he or she doesn’t move during an MRI, to swiftly preforming an abdominal ultrasound on a patient in pain, to helping make a mammogram less uncomfortable.
The skill of the radiology technologist is also paramount for executing each exam in a way that meets the demands of a radiologist and the ordering physician. Think of it like this: the results of a photo can be enriched through great technology but, ultimately, the skill of the photographer is what creates the image.
Radiology is one of the most “high tech” aspects of healthcare, allowing us to gather critical information to determine treatment in a trauma case. As well, information from a radiology test aids in the identification, treatment or prevention of numerous diseases.
Mammography is the primary tool for the detection of breast cancer. Mammography is an important standard of care for women’s wellness and is typically, directed by your primary care physician.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive, radiation-free diagnostic tool that can diagnose and test the functionality of the body.
In Meeker, ultrasound is the only way to visualize and evaluate the mother and her unborn child. Therefore it is a valuable tool to monitor the mother’s and her baby’s health.
Computerized Tomography (CT) is the most accurate diagnostic tool for any trauma situation. It is also the most widely used to evaluate for acute/chronic disease processes.
DexaScan is a low radiation screening tool used to detect bone density and for osteoporosis screening and monitoring. As well as, determining the likelihood of having an adult fracture based on a person’s bone density.
Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) is a highly technologically advanced diagnostic tool that can be used to evaluate and visualize the soft tissue of the body such as tendons, ligaments, muscles and organs.
General X-ray is the first line of diagnostic evaluation used to evaluate such things as broken bones, abdominal pain/chest pain and pneumonia.
By Greg Hanberg
Director of Radiology Services
Pioneers Medical Center
