General Doctors MRI

If pictures are worth a thousand words, how much is an image of a human organ worth? As a skilled doctor, you recognize that providing an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan is priceless. Magnetic resonance imaging is necessary as far as diagnosing and tracking the progress of a disease is concerned. It also allows you to check your treatment plan's effectiveness and adjust protocols if necessary, providing your patients with more comprehensive medical care. Los Angeles Diagnostics provides referring doctors and patients with detailed imaging services performed by qualified radiologists with state-of-the-art equipment. Contact us if you are seeking a patient referral program or if you are precribed for an MRI.

A Brief Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive and pain-free radiology technique that produces an image of a body structure using a computer, radio waves, and magnetism.

The scanner is a tube with a circular magnet. Your patient is placed on a table that is inserted into the scanner. The magnet creates a magnetic field that aligns the hydrogen atoms' protons, which are later exposed to radio waves. It spins protons of the body, and they produce a signal that the scanner's receiver detects. A computer processes the information and creates an image.

MRI resolution and image are detailed and could detect tiny changes within the body structure. Sometimes gadolinium could be used to boost the accuracy of the pictures.

An MRI differs from a computed tomography scan in that it does not use x-rays to produce images. For health conditions that demand frequent imaging like brain diseases, MRI is the preferable option because your patient will not experience any radiation.

Uses of the MRI Scan

The detailed MRI images are instrumental in diagnosing a disease affecting body tissues, organs, and muscles. If you suspect your patient has a disease or illness, you can order an MRI to identify the challenge. Sometimes, a diagnosis could prevent or show the necessity for a surgical procedure. It is beneficial for spinal cord and brain conditions.

Health conditions that magnetic resonance imaging diagnose include:

• Abnormalities or tumors in body organs such as spleen, liver, reproductive organs, bile ducts, pancreas, heart, bowel, adrenal glands, and bladder
• Spinal cord and brain condition like stroke, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, tumors, brain injuries, and multiple sclerosis
• Blood vessel and heart conditions like the irregular size of the aortic chamber, damage due to heart disease or heart attack, blockages, aneurysms, a congenital heart condition, and inflammation
• Liver health condition like cirrhosis
• Bone and joint irregularities, abnormalities, infections, and tumors
• Breast cancer
• Inflammatory bowel health condition like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease

There is also another category of MRI used to analyze brain activity known as functional magnetic resonance imaging. It looks at the brain structure and blood flow in the brain that increases in the active areas. The scan can also analyze which areas control various functions like language, planning, and movement. It can help diagnose brain damage due to brain tumors, head injury, stroke, and effects of conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.

Is MRI Testing Suitable for All Persons?

Although magnetic resonance imaging is safe, the following conditions might affect your patient's safety:

• Metal in the body — If your patient has a metal implant or a medical device like a metal chip, coil, cochlear, defibrillator, or pacemaker, they might not have the test. Because the scanner uses magnets to acquire the required images, the magnets could attract the metallic substance. The restriction also applies to metallic objects like bullet fragments and metal shards. If neither you nor the patient is sure about the metal's existence, you can conduct X-ray examinations before ordering the MRI. Typically, titanium in the body is acceptable for medical testing.
• Liver or kidney disease — If the patient has a history of liver or kidney condition, they might not get a contrast agent injection with the MRI because it could result in complications.
• A tattoo — Some inks have metal components.
• Pregnancy — Although the medical test does not harm the fetus, it can increase body temperature. As a result, an expectant mother should not have the test during the first trimester, when the unborn baby's organs are developing. Additionally, a pregnant woman should not have a contrast injection unless they are advised otherwise.
• Implanted electronic or medical devices— They could interfere with results or create a dangerous situation for your patients by damaging the devices. Some medical devices are okay for magnetic resonance imaging after a given time has elapsed following implantation. Remember to ask your patients if they have nerve stimulators, metal pins, staples, screws, plates, stents, and artificial heart valves.

How To Prepare Your Patient for the Test

If you order your patient to have a magnetic resonance imaging test, you should inquire if any discussed conditions exist. Additionally, it's the moment to answer the patient's questions and explain what you want to find out and the meaning of the findings.

If the patient is anxious or claustrophobic, or with a large body frame, tell them of the likelihood of an open MRI scanner instead of the conventional MRI. The scanner is open on its sides, reducing the feeling of being enclosed and permitting more space.

If your patient is concerned about the reaction, tell them of the likelihood of taking a sedative, such as Ativan, Xanax, Valium, before the test to help them relax. If prescribed, they should take it at least thirty to forty minutes before the test according to your instructions.

Timing

Typically, the entire procedure takes at least forty-five minutes, depending mainly on whether the patient is having anesthesia or not.

Your patient could spend some time filling out forms, questionnaires, and consent forms before the scan. The MRI technician will also review your patient's medication and health history with you and check their blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. If they are being injected with a contrast agent or sedated, they will have the IV before the test. Therefore, the preparation time could take at least fifteen minutes.

The scan itself could take fifteen minutes to one hour, hinging on the body part being scanned.

There wouldn't be recovery time unless the patient was sedated. In that case, it might take one or two hours before they can go home.

What to Put On

Generally, patients put on gowns for their scans. They can also wear loose-fitting clothing that does not have a metal fastener. Remember to tell the patient to remove all metal accessories or jewelry before entering the scanning room or leave them at home. The objects could affect the scan, hurt your patient, or get damaged.

These metal accessories and jewelry include:

• Watches
• Hearing aids
• Zippers, hairpins, pins
• Dentures
• Body piercings
• Eyeglasses
• Credit cards
• Underwire bras

Drink and Food

The patient can drink, eat, and take their medication as usual before the procedure. You should notify them if this is not the case.

However, if your patient will be sedated, they should fast for some time. Ensure they comply with your instructions. Otherwise, the test will be rescheduled.

What to Carry

If your patient has a medical implant or device, advise them to carry all details they have about it like a card or pamphlet they might have received. It could help the radiologist assess the scan's need.

They should also bring the insurance card and ID.

If they had anesthesia or were sedated, they should come with a family member or friend who will take them home following the MRI scan.

What to Expect During the Test

Once your patient is in position, a scanner table will slide into the scanner tube. The patient can communicate with the technician via intercom.

To produce high-quality images, the patient should remain still throughout the scan. The test is painless. The scanner could be noisy while in operation. Therefore, headphones are given, and your patient can listen to their favorite music.

Additionally, the patient might feel warmth in their body area being tested, but that is normal.

Sometimes, people are requested to hold their breath to capture clear images.

If you ordered the patient to have an fMRI, they would be asked to engage in tasks like listening to music, tapping their fingers, and answering basic questions.

Occasionally, persons experience allergic reactions to a contrast agent, causing itchy skin or eyes, and they should notify their experienced technologist. Usually, the allergic reaction happens within minutes following the injection and is regulated with medication.

After the test, the patient should wait for some time as the radiologist confirms that they do not require more scan images.

Once they are cleared, they can return home and can resume their regular diet and routine. However, if they are a breastfeeding mother and were injected with contrast, they should wait for forty-eight hours before nursing their baby.

Interpreting Results

Magnetic resonance imaging results take a couple of hours to be released.

The radiologist will study and then interpret the scans. They will write and send you a report within 24 hours. It can either through email or a referring doctor portal. From there, you can share the findings with your patient and discuss the way forward.

The report has many sections. One of them is the finding of the body parts scanned. Every area is categorized as potentially abnormal, abnormal, and normal.

The impression section is an essential element of the radiology report. The professional combines your patient's clinical history with their MRI results and reasons for the scan and outlines the diagnosis. If there are no adequate details for a particular diagnosis, the expert will list potential differential diagnoses that might suit your patient's situation.

You should follow-up with the patient with any of the following scenario applies:

• Potentially abnormal or abnormal — Depending primarily on the results, the radiologist might recommend a biopsy, comparing the test to previous scans, comparing the results with symptoms or laboratory results, or additional imaging.
• Inconclusive — Should the magnetic resonance imaging fail to find what you are searching for, you can order another scan that uses a different view. You can also order an imaging technique like MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) that looks at the blood vessels, magnetic resonance imaging with a contrast agent, or an fMRI.
• Diagnosis — If the scan diagnosed a health condition, you should talk to the patient about the most effective treatment plan. You might also order another test to track the progress of the abnormality for any change and check if the treatment plan is working. However, this should be scheduled later.

Services That You Could Benefit From

Discussed below are services offered by MRI imaging centers  to referring physicians:

Referring Doctor Portal

Conventional methods of sending MRI results to the referring physician are faulty. The images could be sent to the incorrect address. The mail carrier could unintentionally damage the CD, and the patient might fail to bring the results with them for follow-up. Not forgetting the time it takes to burn the CD and the number of employees allocated for the process.

A referring doctor portal helps any seasoned imaging center deliver diagnostic reports and medical images more effectively and efficiently. The ability to access and share results when and where they are required improves medical outcomes and increases your efficiency. Time is money, and it also plays a significant role in saving lives; you can start the treatment plan soon.

After the scan, your patient does not have to wait at the diagnostic center to burn a CD. Instead, the radiologist uploads the results and images. It allows you to have time to review the reports, especially on difficult cases, before seeing the patient.

The referring doctor portal enables you to have more power and control over your schedule and time. Instead of staying late in your office, waiting for results, you could view the MRI image remotely from an internet-enabled device.

The portal also allows you to connect with your radiologist and collaborate.

Finally, the doctor portal allows you to schedule an appointment for your patient rather than sending them for in-person imaging center appointments. It saves time and money.

After sign up with your imaging center:

1. One staff member will contact you about the patient's condition in the most convenient method; it could be through text, email, or phone call.
2. The friendly staff will ask you a few questions.
3. You will order an MRI test for your patient, and they have the medical procedure at the imaging center on the date of their appointment.

Chiropractic Services

Many people experiencing back pain have sought you as a medical practitioner for minimally invasive relief. Nevertheless, an adjustment is not always the best action and might be dangerous. To assess the health of the spine, you should rely on an MRI test. The evaluation is enough to diagnose and understand any issue with the spine or pain in the neck or head.

You should recommend magnetic resonance imaging if you suspect:

• Disc degeneration — It happens when the pads between the vertebrae become dry and crack. When this occurs, the patient experiences painful pressure, and their disc might slide or bulge out of place.
• Dislocations — Sports and motor vehicle injuries are some of the reasons the spine, shoulder, knee, or hip may dislocate.
• Vertebral compression fracture or fracture in bone— They signal that your patient has osteoporosis and require immediate medical attention.
• Spinal stenosis causes the spinal cord to be narrow, compressing nerves and causing pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness.
• Spinal tumor

Diagnosing Orthopedic Injuries and Conditions

Techniques and tools used to diagnose and treat orthopedic health conditions are evolving every passing day. As a modern sports medicine expert or orthopedic surgeon, you have magnetic resonance imaging at your disposal to correctly diagnose injuries and disorders affecting your patient's ligaments, tendons, spine, cartilage, muscles, and bones. Thanks to the computer system and magnetic fields that give detailed and reliable images.

You can also use the MRI scan results to develop a treatment plan that does not require surgical procedures. And your patient will no longer experience difficulty getting through their daily routine.

Cancer and Oncology

Cancer patients find MRI scanning to be a universal and essential aspect of treatment. MRI allows radiation-free and accurate imaging for preoperative staging and plays a significant role in diagnosis and treatment follow-up or tumor removal.

What to Do and Not Do as Far as Ordering Patient MRI Examinations are Concerned

Radiological examination orders constitute a significant challenge to doctors and health care facilities. How should an MRI expert go ahead if the issued order does not match the patient's needs? It is a question that contradicts the intricacy of the adherence issues it might cause.

The Office of Inspector General recommends that Medicare request a refund for all services without a doctor's order.

MRI Order Through Medicare

Requirements for a medical service ordered in an imaging center are in the Medicare Hospital Conditions of Participation. The COP mandates that:

• Every service should have an order in the medical record of the patient.
• The order should match what is offered.

Moreover, the COP indicates that only an expert with clinical privilege could order an MRI service. That means if the health care facility has approved you to request services on behalf of patients, the orders are valid.

MRI scan could be requested if considered medically appropriate. If the order is altered from what was previously requested, the necessity of that change should be documented.

Exemptions to the Medicare Orders

There are a few exemptions to the above rules. It is essential to know how they could apply in your case.

• If the Medicare order doesn't specify the examination protocol, your skilled radiologist might take a test design decision. It permits the MRI technician to decide how the MRI test will be carried out based on your patient's clinical indication without notifying you.
• The radiologist might change an order when apparent mistakes exist, like an MRI order of a right leg when the left leg is severely injured.
• Images made to let other medical procedures to continue are billable and permissible per Medicare order.
• If your patient's physical condition doesn't permit the order to be performed, the radiologist could cancel it.

Non-Medicare Order

Generally, a commercial payer requires preauthorization or precertification before an MRI test could be requested and performed. Typically, it is your responsibility as the referring doctor to acquire the payer's precertification by offering a requisite reason for your order.

Since you own your patient's medical records, you should get the approval and keep the documentation showing why you ordered the MRI scan. It reduces conflicts of interest.

Wrong orders should be returned to you and replaced with another preauthorization or order.

Ambient Magnetic Resonance Imaging Experience

The ambient MRI experience is meant to transform your patient's environment while improving the patient experience during the examination. Using theme chosen wall projections, dynamic lighting, and sound, the patient can relax throughout the scanning process and distract them from the stressful part of the examination. It lowers the number of rescans, hence saving time.

There is a wide range of visual themes that the patient can choose, all designed for various age groups, tastes, and preferences.

Does Ambient Experience Affect the Scan's Quality?

The ambient experience's elements are different from the scanning equipment, and the scanner isn't affected in any manner.

However, the environment helps the radiologist to be more productive and relaxed, making the experience more enjoyable for the patient. The relaxed mode the experience creates means more accurate MRI images due to less motion.

Find an Imaging Center Near Me

Diagnostic imaging techniques like MRI are essential in diagnosing and identifying the cause of many health conditions, including cancer, back pain, and brain injuries. As a referring doctor, it helps you develop a treatment plan that might involve simple solutions that don't require surgical procedures. At Los Angeles Diagnostics, we are committed to making sure the latest MRI technology is available to your patient. The use of standardized protocols and frequent performance monitoring has resulted in outstanding patient safety and quick test results dissemination. To learn more about our imaging services and seasoned staff, call us today at 323-486-7502.