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Diagnostic Imaging Services for Intermountain Healthcare are fully integrated between our three Utah County hospitals - American Fork Hospital, Orem Community Hospital and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. We use electronic image capturing, distribution, interpretation and report delivery to ensure optimal service and convenience for our patients.
Services
The radiology specialists at Orem Community Hospital are trained to perform and read a number of X-ray procedures. An X-ray is a painless procedure used to detect certain injuries, illnesses, infections and digestive problems.
Computed Tomography (CT) is a diagnostic tool that uses X-rays to create a series of computerized images of your body that are helpful in detecting many medical conditions that do not appear on traditional X-rays.
The doughnut-shaped CT scanner is similar in appearance to an MRI scanner, and houses an X-ray tube that moves rapidly around a specific anatomical area of your body, taking X-ray pictures and sends them to a computer. The computer uses these signals to generate a complete image of your internal anatomy.
During your CT exam, patients are asked to lie quiet and still on a padded table for about 15 minutes.
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- If your CT scan requires oral contrast, you will be scheduled to arrive 90 minutes prior to your scan time.
- If you have experienced a prior allergic reaction to a contrast agent in the past, please notify your caregiver or scheduler prior to arriving for your test.
- You may need to go without food or drink for two to four hours prior to your exam.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
- You will also be most comfortable during the exam if you wear comfortable clothing, free of any metallic particles.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique that uses a radio waves and a magnetic field instead of X-ray to take internal pictures of different parts of the body. It is a safe, easy and comfortable exam and provides an excellent way to diagnose diseases of the brain, spine, skeleton, chest, abdomen, pelvis and blood vessels.
During an MRI exam, you will be required to lie very still on a table that moves into a doughnut-shaped scanner with a large magnet. The procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the types of images needed.
There is no known health risk associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves the MRI machine emits during a procedure. However, some special circumstances limit the use of a magnetic field, so it is important for you to tell us if any of the following apply to you or a loved one accompanying you into the exam room:
- cardiac pacemaker
- internal pacing wires
- cardiac defibrillation
- any neurostimulator
- current pregnancy
- any surgical clips, prosthetics or other devices
- any metallic foreign particles (in eye or other areas)
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- Plan on your MRI exam lasting 30 to 60 minutes. This will depend on the area of the body being scanned and the number of images needed.
- Arrive for your test wearing comfortable clothing, free of any metallic particles.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to generate still or video images of soft tissue areas of the body. Warm acoustic gel is placed on the skin over the area to be viewed. A hand-held instrument called a "transducer" is then moved slowly across the skin to generate an image that appears on the ultrasound monitor. Ultrasound procedures are usually quick and painless and usually take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Preparing for an Ultrasound
If your pelvic or abdomen regions are to be examined, you may be asked not to eat or drink after midnight prior to the exam, or you may be asked to arrive for the test with a full bladder.
Mammography is a specific type of low-dose, noninvasive X-ray used to examine breast tissue for breast tissue irregularities. Mammograms are useful in detecting tumors that cannot be felt. Mammograms can also find micro-calcifications that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer.
* services accredited by the American College of Radiology
Orem Community’s Diagnostic Imaging department is staffed with board-certified radiologists, who provide professional services and interpretation as well as registered and licensed radiology technologists. We participate in an affiliated technologist training program with Weber State University for general radiography and specialty programs.
Quick Reference
Diagnostic Imaging department (801) 714-3332.