What Is An Outpatient Imaging Center?
Imaging centers are facilities dedicated to performing medical imaging services to produce high definition images of bones, tissues, organs, blood vessels, arteries, and the nervous system. Imaging centers often include, but are not limited to, MRI, CT Scans, X-Rays, Mammography, DEXA Bone Scans, PET Scans, Electromyography, and Ultrasounds. Compared to hospitals, outpatient imaging centers have many benefits such as convenience, patient-focused care, advanced technology and being cost effective.
Convenience
Outpatient imaging centers generally have multiple locations which make them easily accessible. Their focus is imaging which means quick and easy appointment scheduling and minimal wait times.
Patient-Focused Care
Outpatient imaging centers are smaller which allows for a more personalized care. Being smaller in size also allows for easier navigation as opposed to a larger, more complex hospital building.
Advanced Technology
Because outpatient imaging centers are specialized, it allows for highly skilled professionals and advanced technology. This ensures patients get clear and accurate images as quickly as possible.
Cost Effective
Hospital imaging can be much pricier than at an outpatient imaging center. Average prices for MRI and CT scans at a hospital can range anywhere from 30-50% higher than at a freestanding imaging center. Therefore, patients who have not yet met their deductible could save a significant amount of their out-of-pocket costs.
Townsen Memorial Hospital Is Here For You
At Townsen Memorial, safe, effective, and affordable care is our top priority. Therefore, we strive to provide the best patient experience across all Townsen Memorial affiliated sites. The high-quality care starts at our Emergency Room and carries on through our Imaging Centers, Surgery Centers, and up through our Townsen Memorial Hospital. Our medical sites are located in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas, to provide the best care to patients in and around Harris County. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
As scientists research and discover new trends and innovations, the landscape of medical imaging is ever-evolving. The technology that shapes and drives diagnostic imaging has grown steadily, allowing radiologists to use things like MRI, tomography and more as a window into the human body. Fortunately, this rapid growth bodes well for the future of medical imaging. Three major trends are expected to emerge, evolve and improve throughout the 2020s: 3D imaging, Artificial Intelligence, and wearable technology.
3D Imaging
Three-dimensional imaging takes a typical CT or MRI and makes it better, allowing doctors to see a realistic rendering of the body part. Radiologists use the current CT or MRI scans, along with cinematic rendering–a process that uses augmented reality software to capture a realistic image that can be viewed from any angle. The image includes texture, which is beneficial for scans of tumors or arteries, and can aid physicians in diagnosing an illness or determining a treatment plan.
In the future, scientists predict that the use of special eyewear along with 3D imaging will help doctors gain more important information about a specific body part or illness than ever before. And it’s likely going to be possible for doctors to 3D print a replica of the illness or body part for further use in research, diagnosis and treatment.
All together, 3D imaging gives physicians an extremely realistic view of the medical issue at hand, requiring less guesswork when it comes to a diagnosis.
Artificial Intelligence
A majority of companies in the medical field are now looking to Artificial Intelligence, or AI, to improve patient treatment and care. However, AI is already changing medical imaging for the better. Software is now used to develop algorithms based on patient data that can predict certain diagnoses, as well as assist radiologists in identifying issues that aren’t visible to the human eye. This helps save valuable time and resources and can lead to a more accurate diagnosis.
Wearable Technology
Portable, or wearable, technology can be used to collect info.This technology can be used to better understand how a patient manages their health while at work or home, as well as what risks or activities could be influencing their care.
Portable medical imaging devices, like a portable brain scanner or MRI glove are on the rise, as they are inexpensive and can assist medical professionals in making a diagnosis in any setting. If a more serious issue is discovered, the patient can be referred to the hospital or their doctor’s office for more comprehensive care.
Townsen Memorial Hospital Is Here For You
At Townsen Memorial, safe, effective, and affordable care is our top priority. Therefore, we strive to provide the best patient experience across all Townsen Memorial affiliated sites. The high-quality care starts at our Emergency Room and carries on through our Imaging Centers, Surgery Centers, and up through our Townsen Memorial Hospital. Our medical sites are located in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas, to provide the best care to patients in and around Harris County. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
What Is An Outpatient Imaging Center?
Imaging centers are facilities dedicated to performing medical imaging services to produce high definition images of bones, tissues, organs, blood vessels, arteries, and the nervous system. Imaging centers often include, but are not limited to, MRI, CT Scans, X-Rays, Mammography, DEXA Bone Scans, PET Scans, Electromyography, and Ultrasounds. Compared to hospitals, outpatient imaging centers have many benefits such as convenience, patient-focused care, advanced technology and being cost effective.
Convenience
Outpatient imaging centers generally have multiple locations which make them easily accessible. Their focus is imaging which means quick and easy appointment scheduling and minimal wait times.
Patient-Focused Care
Outpatient imaging centers are smaller which allows for a more personalized care. Being smaller in size also allows for easier navigation as opposed to a larger, more complex hospital building.
Advanced Technology
Because outpatient imaging centers are specialized, it allows for highly skilled professionals and advanced technology. This ensures patients get clear and accurate images as quickly as possible.
Cost Effective
Hospital imaging can be much pricier than at an outpatient imaging center. Average prices for MRI and CT scans at a hospital can range anywhere from 30-50% higher than at a freestanding imaging center. Therefore, patients who have not yet met their deductible could save a significant amount of their out-of-pocket costs.
Townsen Memorial Hospital Is Here For You
At Townsen Memorial, safe, effective, and affordable care is our top priority. Therefore, we strive to provide the best patient experience across all Townsen Memorial affiliated sites. The high-quality care starts at our Emergency Room and carries on through our Imaging Centers, Surgery Centers, and up through our Townsen Memorial Hospital. Our medical sites are located in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas, to provide the best care to patients in and around Harris County. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
Have You Ever Wondered Why There Are Different Types Of Imaging Tests?
If your doctor has ordered a medical imaging exam for you, you might have questions about the type of scan or test you will be receiving.
There are many ways doctors use imaging to diagnose or monitor a medical condition. Different types of imaging are used for different conditions and depend on your symptoms. Imaging scans are safe and carry minimal risks, but at Townsen Memorial we want you to know what to expect so that you feel prepared and comfortable.
Types Of Imaging
An X-Ray is the most widely used medical imaging technique for bone structures since their discovery. The technique shows bone breaks, fractures, arthritis, osteoporosis, and more allowing the medical staff to determine an accurate treatment plan. X-Rays are quick and painless, usually only taking 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
A CT Scan (Computed Tomography Scan) uses computer-processed combinations of differently angled X-Ray measurements to see the inside of an organ without cutting into it. They allow the medical team to take a more specialized look at the problem area. CT scans are used to detect tumors, bone trauma, heart disease, and even internal lung problems. During a CT Scan, you lie on a table that slides into an x-ray tube. The tube rotates around to take the images. This process usually only takes 10 to 15 minutes.
MRIs use magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body. An MRI is used to diagnose internal problems, as well as a follow-up from medical procedures without exposing the patient to the radiation of an X-ray. They are used to diagnose neurological cancers, central nervous system disorders, spinal problems, and much more. During an MRI, you lie on a table that slides into the MRI machine. This process usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
An Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of organs and structures within the body. An ultrasound is typically used during pregnancy but is also used to diagnose gallbladder disease, breast lumps, joint inflammation, and much more. During this process, a technician applies a gel to your skin, then glides a transducer over the area to be scanned, capturing the images inside your body. A ultrasound is completely painless and usually only lasts 30 minutes to an hour.
An Electromyography (EMG) measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle. This test is used to reveal nerve dysfunction, muscle dysfunction, or even problems with nerve-to-muscle signal transmission. During this process, needles (called electrodes) are inserted through the skin into the muscle. The needle records the electrical activity in that muscle and translates these signals into graphs, sounds, or numerical values that are interpreted by a specialist.
A related procedure is the Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV). This procedure measures the speed of conduction of an electrical impulse through a nerve. An NCV can determine if a nerve is damaged and is often performed at the same time as an EMG. During this process, electrode patches are attached to the skin and the nerve is stimulated.
Contact Us
Medical imaging is a useful tool for doctors to detect and diagnose certain conditions and illnesses. At Townsen Memorial, we offer a wide variety of services, including imaging tests, operated by a skilled medical staff to provide patients with the best in imaging care. We offer imaging in various locations. Our main hospital location is located in Humble, TX off of FM 1960 and Highway 59. We also have 2 imaging center locations. Townsen Memorial Imaging Center- Med Center is located at 3003 S. Loop W. Suite 140 in Houston, Texas. Townsen Memorial Imaging Center- Spring is located at 3301 Spring Stuebner Rd., Suite 120 in Spring, Texas. If you have any questions visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
If you’ve ever needed to get imaging done at a hospital, you’ve interacted with a radiologist. Radiologists are medical doctors that specialize in both diagnosing and treating illnesses using medical imaging.Imaging can include X-rays, MRIs, PET Scans, CTs, ultrasounds and more. Below we dive into what radiologists do, including different radiology specialties and treatment.
Schooling
To become a radiologist, doctors go through thirteen years of schooling, including four years of medical school, a four year residency and often a one- to two-year fellowship for specialized training. Fellowships are often required for those who want to go into oncology, pediatric, or interventional radiology. Additionally, radiologists are required to continue their education throughout their careers to maintain their certification.
Types Of Radiologists
There are three main types of radiologists: radiation, diagnostic and interventional.
Radiation: These highly-trained doctors prescribe and oversee treatment for cancer patients. They use radiation therapy to treat cancer, while also monitoring patient progress and adjusting treatments as needed. Radiation radiologists undergo many facets of training to prepare them for their roles, including extensive cancer medicine education, how to safely use radiation to treat disease, as well as how to manage any and all side effects caused by radiation.
Diagnostic: This type of radiologist does pretty much what you would expect from their name. They use medical imaging to diagnose a patient’s condition. Acting as a supplement to your referring physician, these doctors perform, interpret and report the results of your scans, and even help your doctor devise the best treatment plan or recommend additional testing if necessary.
Diagnostic radiologists may also specialize in the following:
- Breast Imaging/Mammograms
- Cardiovascular
- Pediatric
- Head and Neck
- Emergency
- Chest
- Neuroradiology
- Musculoskeletal
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary radiology
Interventional: These doctors diagnose and treat patients with minimally-invasive techniques, such as MRIs and X-rays. After creating minute incisions in the body, they guide tiny instruments to the source of the problem to deliver treatment. Interventional radiologists treat many diseases this way, including, but not limited to:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Uterine fibroids
- And more
This technique is beneficial to patients because the procedures pose less risk and require less recovery time than more traditional surgical methods.
Townsen Memorial Hospital Is Here For You
At Townsen Memorial Hospital in Humble, TX, our medical staff is experienced in all aspects of radiology–from cancer treatment to diagnostic imaging. We’re conveniently located off of 59N and FM 1960 at the corner of 1960 & Townsen Rd. to ensure you can arrive safely and quickly should you need medical attention. With a 24/7 emergency room and a hospital staff trained in all specialties, we’re here for you when you need us. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
