At Sun View Imaging Services, quality patient care is our highest priority.
Our caring staff will work to make your experience as comfortable and easy as possible. Below, we’ve provided some information that you may find to be helpful or informative as you prepare for your visit.
- Some insurance companies require a pre-authorization or referral prior to your exam appointment. Please check with your insurance provider.
- You will receive an automated appointment confirmation call or text prior to your exam appointment.
- Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your exam appointment unless you have an MRI in which case you will need to arrive 30 minutes prior.
On the day of your appointment, you will need to bring the following:
- Photo identification
- Insurance card
- Order form from your doctor’s office with diagnosis*
- Form of payment for cash payment, co-payment or co-insurance, if applicable. Please check with your insurance or call our scheduling department for your portion of payment.
Want to learn more about our diagnostic equipment and how to prepare for your visit? Select the appropriate link below to find information specific to your type of scheduled exam and how to prepare for your visit.
Preparing For Your Visit
Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of organs and structures inside the body. In many cases, MRI provides information that cannot be obtained from an x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan. For an MRI test, the area of the body being studied is positioned inside a strong magnetic field. The MRI can detect changes in the normal structure and characteristics of organs or other tissues. Sometimes, an injectable contrast agent is used in conjunction with an MRI study, to produce more clearly defined images.
Prior to your visit:
It is important to let our scheduler know if you have any metal implants, brain aneurysm clips, a heart pacemaker or defibrillator, ferrous metal in the eye or any other implanted material, as these may be contraindications to your exam. Your physician can consult with our radiologist to determine the appropriate test for you.
To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register you for your visit. Our automated appointment confirmation system will contact you to confirm your appointment.
On the day of your visit:
- Expect your exam time to take a minimum of 25 minutes to 45 minutes per exam.
- Please bring a photo ID, insurance information, your portion of payment and the prescription from your physician to your appointment.
- You may eat, drink and take medications as usual unless you are advised differently.
- Wear comfortable clothing that is free from any metal, such as buttons and zippers. If this is not possible, we will provide you with a gown to wear during your exam.
- Please bring your most recent laboratory results to your visit
- We will try to make you as comfortable as possible during your exam. If you experience discomfort at any time, you will be able to communicate with the technologist through an intercom system.During the exam, you will hear humming, clicking and thumping sounds coming from the equipment. There is no need for alarm, as these sounds are part of the normal functioning of this type of equipment.
- For optimal imaging quality, it is important for you to remain as still as possible during the exam. Your technologist will provide pillows and pads to help you become comfortably positioned.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
Computed Tomography (CT)
A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and computer technology to produce detailed images of structures inside the body. A CT scan is also called a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan.
Prior to your visit:
To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register/authorize your exam. You will recieve an automated appointment confirmation call prior to your exam appointment.
On the day of your visit:
- Expect your CT exam to take a minimum of 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
- Please bring a photo, insurance information, your portion of payment and the order form/prescription from your physician to your appointment.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Please bring your most recent laboratory results to your visit.
- You may eat, drink and take medications as usual unless you are advised differently. Some tests will require fasting; our staff will advise you if this is necessary.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, obtains images from inside the human body through the use of high-frequency sound waves and computer technology. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as real-time visual images. Radiation is not used in ultrasound imaging.
Prior to your visit:
To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register/authorize your exam appointment. You will receive an automated appointment confirmation call prior to your exam appointment.
On the day of your visit:
- Expect your exam to take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
- Please bring a photo ID, your insurance information, portion of payment and the order/prescription from your physician to your appointment.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- You may eat, drink and take medications as usual unless you are advised differently. Some tests will require fasting; our staff will advise you if this is necessary.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
Digital Mammography
Mammography (mammogram) is an x-ray exam of the breast. Most mammography is done as a baseline or screening exam. This exam is useful in diagnosis of breast disease and in detection of cancer. Most breast disease is not malignant or cancerous. If cancer is present, finding it early improves your chances of being treated successfully. If you or your doctor detect the presence of a breast lump, mammography may aid in detecting other lumps or a lump in the other breast which cannot be felt yet. Mammography is the most accurate method currently available to detect breast disease when no symptoms exist.
What is the difference between a mammography screening examination and a diagnostic mammogram?
A screening is an annual examination that is a check -up when a patient is not having any problems. A diagnostic mammogram, however, is usually ordered and performed when a patient has a lump, diagnosed with breast cancer within 5 years, is having pain or nipple discharge, etc.
Digital mammography results in shorter exam times when compared to film-based mammography. The image quality of digital and analog systems is comparable, but use of digital technology offers greater image flexibility.
Our full-field digital mammography system combines the latest advances in technology with sophisticated information management capabilities to provide highly accurate and efficient mammography exams. Since the images are stored electronically, the Radiologist is able to zoom in and out, making detection much easier.
Prior to your visit:
Be sure to inform the scheduler if you have breast implants or a personal history of breast cancer. To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register you for your visit. You will receive an automated appointment confirmation call prior to your exam appointment.
On the day of your visit:
- Expect your exam to take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
- Please bring a photo ID, your insurance information, portion of payment and the prescription (for diagnostic mammograms only) from your physician to your appointment.
- We recommend you wear a two-piece outfit so that you will only need to disrobe from the waist up. Please refrain from using any deodorant, lotions, powders, perfumes, or any other products on your upper torso or arms, as they may contain minerals that interfere with the results of your study.
- It is important to notify your technologist if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- You may eat, drink and take medications as usual unless you are advised differently.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
X-ray
An X-ray is a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, which can be focused into a beam. When X-rays strike a piece of photographic film or computerized detector, an image is produced. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and appear white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, appear in shades of gray, while X-rays that pass only through air, such as X-rays of the lungs or colon, appear black.
Prior to your visit:
To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register you for your visit. If you have an exam appointment, our automated appointment confirmation system will call you to confirm your appointment. Regular X-rays do not need an appointment.
On the day of your visit:
- Please bring a photo ID, your insurance information, portion of payment and the order/prescription from your physician.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- You may eat, drink and take medications as usual unless you are advised differently. Some tests will require fasting; our staff will advise you if this is necessary.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
Bone Densitometry
A bone mineral density (BMD) test is used to diagnose bone loss and determine a patient’s risk for fractures. This test is also known as bone mass measurement or bone densitometry. BMD tests measure the amount of calcium in different regions of the bone, usually targeting the hip, spine or wrist, which are the most common areas of bone loss related fractures. During the test, the patient lies on a padded table while the system scans one or more areas of the body. The entire exam typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
Prior to your visit:
- To make your visit as quick as possible, we will make every effort to pre-register you for your visit. You will receive an automated appointment confirmation call from our system prior to your appointment
- You do not have to change your daily routine before this test. Eat, drink, and take any medications as you normally would. However, do not take calcium supplements or drugs that contain calcium, such as Tums, for 24 hours before your bone densitometry test.
- If you’ve had an injection of contrast dye for a CT scan or have had any barium, you should wait 7 days before having a bone density exam. The contrast could interfere with your bone density test.
On the day of your visit:
- Please bring a photo ID, your insurance information, portion of payment and the prescription from your physician to your appointment.
- Avoid wearing clothes with metal zippers, belts, or buttons.
Following your visit:
Our radiologists will interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results of your exam to you.
PET / CT Scan
The PET/CT scan combines positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) in one machine. From one single PET/CT scan, your doctor will have information about the structure and function of cells and tissues in your body. Since this diagnostic test is at the cellular level, often it can identify changes that signify early stages of disease. The most common uses of PET/CT scans are to detect and determine the spread of cancer, assess the effectiveness of cancer therapy, and study brain abnormalities.
Depending on the areas your doctor is imaging, the average PET/CT scan time is about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Patients are not under the machine the entire time. The scanning process is painless, and for most people the buzzing and clicking of the machine as it takes images of the specified body area, is what most people comment on and remember.
Some patients may be asked for a urine sample prior to the exam for pregnancy testing. As with most imaging tests, pregnant women and their doctors should discuss the risks of having the test while they are pregnant.
To prepare for your PET/CT scan:
Fast 4 hours prior to exam time.
Small amounts of water are okay to drink.
Do not engage in strenuous activity or exercise prior to your exam.
Do not take diabetic medication prior to exam. This is because this is a radioactive sugar dose.
PET/CT Scan With Axumin
A PET/CT scan with Axumin can localize and detect recurrent prostate cancer. Axumin is an FDA-approved diagnostic imaging agent, also known as a “tracer” and administered via an IV prior to the PET/CT exam, which may help your physician determine if and where your prostate cancer has returned. Axumin is used with a PET/CT scan. For more information, about Axumin, go to https://www.axumin.com/sites/default/files/2018-03/patient_brochure.pdf.
To prepare for your PET/CT with Axumin scan:
Fast 4 hours prior to exam time.
Small amounts of water are okay to drink.
All medications are okay to take prior to exam.
Do not engage in strenuous activity or exercise prior to your exam.
Please do not bring any of the following with you to your exam:
- Jewelry, watches, credit cards, and hearing aids, all of which can be damaged.
- Pins, hairpins, anything with metal zippers, and similar metallic items, which can distort images.
- Removable dental work.
- Pens, pocketknives, and eyeglasses.
- In most cases, a PET/CT exam is safe for patients with metal implants, except for a few types. When you schedule you exam, let us know if you have any metal implants.