At Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, we’re committed to providing the best possible radiology care to our patients. Aside from an excellent team of nurses, technologists, physicians and office staff, we use the latest, most advanced equipment, helping physicians appropriately and accurately diagnose each patient’s condition.
Radiology 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.
The Utah Valley Outpatient Center, located on the northest corner of the hospital campus is dedicated to outpatient procedures, making it much more convenient than having to find services within the main hospital. Outpatient radiology services are available on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Imaging Services (Radiology)
Our radiology specialists are trained to perform and read a variety of X-ray procedures. X-rays are used to detect certain injuries, illnesses, infections and digestive problems. These assist physicians in making accurate diagnoses. Most X-ray procedures are painless.
Computed Tomography (CT) is a diagnostic tool that uses X-rays to produce a series of computerized images of your body that are useful in detecting many medical conditions that do not appear on traditional X-rays.
Similar in appearance to an MRI scanner, the doughnut-shaped CT scanner houses an X-ray tube that moves rapidly around a specific anatomical area of your body, taking X-ray pictures and transmitting them to a computer. The computer reconstructs these signals to form a complete image of your internal anatomy.
During your CT exam, you will be asked to lie very still and quiet on a padded table for approximately 15 minutes.
In some cases, your physician may request you be given a substance called contrast to be taken through one of your veins. You may also need to drink oral contrast before your exam. This enables radiologists to view some specific images with greater accuracy.
- 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 an advanced medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves instead of X-ray to take internal pictures of different parts of the body. It is an easy, safe and comfortable exam. It provides an excellent way to diagnose diseases of the brain, spine, skeleton, chest, abdomen, pelvis and blood vessels.
The MRI exam requires you to lie very still on a table that moves into a doughnut-shaped scanner housing a large magnet. During the procedure, you may speak with the technologist overseeing your test by intercom. Due to various noises made by the machine during the test, you may be provided with earplugs or earphones to listen to music. The procedure lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number and types of images needed. In some cases, your physician may request you be given a substance called contrast, to be taken through one of your veins. This enables radiologists to view some specific images with greater accuracy.
An MRI procedure is very safe. There is no known health risk associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves the 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.
Nuclear medicine scans use a camera to take pictures of certain tissues in the body after a radioactive material accumulates in certain tissues. Patients undergoing nuclear medicine scans receive a safe dosage of radioactive material either orally or through an IV. The radiation dose serves to make tissues visible during the scanning pictures. The material soon leaves the body as waste. Nuclear medicine exam times are quite variable and some are lengthy depending on the type of exam you are having. You will be given information regarding the approximate time your exam will take when your exam is scheduled.
Preparing for a Nuclear Medicine Test
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
PET/CT combines two state-of-the-art technologies in one. During a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan, a highly sensitive machine highlights cells in the body with abnormal metabolic functions. The CT (Computed Tomography) scan then depicts the exact location of the abnormal cells with precision and clarity. These images create a 3-D picture that enable physicians to make better decisions for cancer treatments. PET/CT also allows early detection of cancer recurrence and can improve chances for treatment success. To enable the detection of abnormal metabolic functions patients undergoing PET/CT scans will receive a dose of radioactive material through an IV. Additionally, during the CT portion of an exam a patient may also be given a substance called contrast to be taken through one of the veins. Exams take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Preparing for a PET/CT Scan
- You will receive specific instructions relevant to your exam at the time you are scheduled.
- You will also be most comfortable during the exam if you wear comfortable clothing, free of any metallic particles.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create still or video images of soft tissue areas of the body. Warm acoustic gel is applied to the skin over the area to be viewed. A hand-held instrument called a “transducer” is then moved slowly across your skin generating an image that appears on the ultrasound monitor. Ultrasound procedures are generally painless and quick. Sometimes pressure is applied to the transducer to facilitate scanning. Ultrasounds usually take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Preparing for an Ultrasound
If your abdomen or pelvic 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. For some women having pelvic ultrasound exams, the physician may request the use of a vaginal "transducer" to view pelvic anatomy from the inside. If you have questions concerning this you can always speak with your physician, or the sonographer prior to the exam. In all cases, you will receive specific instructions for your exam when you speak with a scheduler.
Mammography is a specific type of low-dose, noninvasive X-ray used to examine breast tissue, commonly searching for breast tissue irregularities. Mammograms make it possible to detect tumors that cannot be felt. Mammograms can also find micro-calcifications (tiny deposits of calcium in the breast) that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer. Mammography can be used either for screening or for diagnostic purposes in evaluating a breast lump.
Fluoroscopy is an exam used for a variety of procedures to view internal organs. Some of the most common procedures done with fluoroscopy include:
- Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging (UGI) – an exam to look at the stomach.
- UGI/small bowel – an exam to look at the stomach and the small intestines.
- Barium enema – an exam to look at the colon or large intestine. This is done with barium and air contrast.
- Chole – an exam used in the operating room, where an image is taken of the common bile duct to look for stones when the gallbladder is being removed.
- Extremities – the surgeon looks to determine if fractures are in alignment or if plates or screws need to be installed.
- Fluoroscopy is also used to assist with the placement of stents, catheters, balloons, blood clots, filters, and more.
Interventional Radiography is a minimally invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It uses X-rays with contrast to produce pictures of major blood vessels in the body. In catheter angiography, a thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel through a small incision in the skin. A contrast material is then injected through the tube and images are captured using x-rays.
Preparing for an Interventional Radiography Test
- 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.
- Inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- You may need to replace your normal clothing with a gown upon arrival.
- You may need to remove jewelry, eyeglasses, and any metal objects.
- Women should inform their physician or the technologist if there is any possibility they are pregnant or if they are nursing.
* services accredited by the American College of Radiology
Deep Venous Thrombosis Care
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) treatment is a minimally-invasive surgery available at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center that treats DVT, a blood clot condition. Our physicians use ultrasound to gain access to the vein and pass a small wire into the vein and position it in the blood clot. Treatment is then provided to dissolve the blood clot.
People at risk for DVT include those who have recently traveled, experienced surgery, are on new medications, are pregnant, or have a family history of DVT.
Preparing for a Radiology Procedure
As you prepare for your radiology procedure, please follow the recommendations listed below to allow your exam to be completed as quickly and safely as possible. These guidelines apply to all exams.
- Bring previous related radiology (imaging) exam results with you.
- Bring your insurance ID card or any other relevant insurance information.
- Bring your order paperwork from your physician.
Test Results
Once you have completed your procedure, a radiologist will view your test results and provide a report. This report will be forwarded to your referring physician who will discuss the test results with you. Please contact your referring physician for results. We recognize most patients want to know the results of their test as soon as possible. We make every effort to process results as promptly as possible.
Questions?
If you have questions about your upcoming exam, please contact your physician or our radiology (imaging) department at (801) 357-7056.