What To Expect

Before

Much preparation precedes your appointment day.

Your preparation may include: re-setting schedules, adjusting your medications, tracking down films from previous exams, arranging for someone to drive you home, and may even include a short fast prior to coming in!

Our preparation includes: a complete review of your insurance benefits, tracking down your previous films, verifying the safety of any implants you have, our Paramedic’s review of your medications, conferring with your referring physician - and more! Therefore, you can expect our staff to have necessary discussions with you by phone before your appointment day arrives.

Paperwork

By completing your paperwork before your appointment, you can speed up your check-in process on the appointment day, shortening the time you are here.

You may complete and print the form to bring with you to your appointment or send it to us by fax or by e-mail. Completing your form ahead will allow you to arrive at our office closer to your actual scan time.

Let the Scheduling Staff know you plan on bringing your completed paperwork with you or sending it prior to your visit and they will give you an updated arrival time.

If you have questions, call our office at 972-759-51490 or click here for an email response from our Scheduling Staff.

What To Wear

One way to improve your visit with us is to come in comfortable clothing that will allow you to skip the ‘GOWN’.

Although our gowns are not flimsy like the hospital gown, they do still tie in the back. We do offer patients 2 gowns to wear (one on front - one on backwards) to cover everything.

But in MOST cases, you can skip this wardrobe change by following this guide:

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing without buttons, zippers, or closures. Avoid under-wire bras, girdles, metal snaps and pins. Instead, wear athletic shorts or sweat pants and tee shirt. No sequined gowns, please. And another tip - leave all valuable items at home, such as extra jewelry. (You can wear your wedding ring - but your Rolex won’t survive the MRI). We do provide a locker for your items while you are being scanned and you keep the key with you.

The only exception to this is for procedures like Myelograms, Arthrograms, Discograms, etc. These medical procedures require more access and therefore a gown is the solution. In these cases, you are required to have a driver - who can keep up with your valuables. When your procedure is completed, a private area is provided for your recovery, where you will be monitored by our Paramedics.

During

We at Crown Imaging are committed to making your visit with us the best experience possible.

It will help if you know what to expect - so let’s go over a few things you can expect when you are here.

Check In

There are two times given to patients for every appointment - an Arrival time & a Scan or Table time.

Your arrival time is set based on two components: First, the prep time required for your specific scan, and second, the time required to complete paperwork.

For examples of the prep time: if you are having a CT scan that requires drinking contrast, you will be asked to be here XX minutes before your actual scan time to drink & change into a gown and fill out your paperwork. For an MRI with contrast - that means arriving XX minutes before the scan time to change into a gown and for the Paramedic to place an IV for the contrast, and to complete paperwork.

This means your Arrival time could be as much as an hour before your scheduled Scan time.

BUT - there are some time-saving steps you can take to reduce the time between your Arrival time and your Scan time.

First - an easy one. Complete your paperwork before you come in.

By doing so, you will easily save 15 minutes of time getting started on your scan. Click here to download the paperwork and let our staff know you are choosing this option.

Second - Skip the Gown!

By properly selecting the clothing to wear to your appointment, you can save time by not having to change into a patient gown. Click here for a suggested list of clothing you can wear for your scan.

Third - When the Staff calls to remind you of your appointment, tell them about any of these time-saver steps you are doing and ask them for BOTH your Arrival time & Scan time. Then you can better plan your visit with us.

Also, at Check In the Receptionist will be asking for your Insurance Card, Drivers License and signed Order from your doctor (if his office didn’t fax it in). She will also ask you for your portion of payment due based on a review of your insurance. (See Insurance Questions for more about your payment portion and payment options). If you didn’t complete your paperwork before arrival, you will be given a packet to complete. Once completed, your information will be placed in your chart for the Medical Assistant or Paramedic to review when they take you back.

In The Back

The Medical Assistant or Paramedic will call your name and escort you to a changing area where you can lock up your clothing and valuables. If a gown is required, you will put two on - one on the front and one in the back - so you will be completely covered. Then they will escort you to a waiting area for patients, where they will review what you are having done. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have. If your scan doesn’t require you to fast (no food or drink), feel free to ask the MA for a snack, water or juice at this time, but understand you will want to use the bathroom before your scan starts.

If your scan requires an IV to be placed, the Medical Assistant (MA) will take you to another room where the Paramedic will place the IV. Our Paramedics are chosen because of their training and skills for placing IVs comfortably. If you have questions, feel free to call the office and talk to a Paramedic before your appointment date. They can answer any questions you have.

One of the duties of the MA is to keep you informed of your progress during your visit. The MA is constantly checking with the Technologist to get an update on your Scan time. Feel free to ask either the MA or the Paramedic for an update as often as you like. Sometimes a patient ahead of you had more difficulty than normal and that could extend your waiting time. The Technologist will take the time to be sure to get the images right the first time - for that patient and your scan as well. If you are on a tight schedule this day, call the office before you come in. They will update you on any delays and you can choose to adjust your appointment based on your schedule.

Once the Technologist is ready for you, your name will be called. Most of the exams require you to be lying down on a table or gurney during the exam. Let the Technologist know of any pain or other issues - he will work to make you as comfortable as possible. The imaging equipment has to be kept cool, so the rooms can be chilly. Ask for a blanket if you need one. Also, the MRIs have music available to listen to. We have an assortment of genres to choose from. Tell the MA or Paramedic what you would like to hear during your scan. The Technologist will setup the scanner with you on the table. For many MRI scans, there are additional devices that go around you to improve the images, based on the body part in question.

Each scan takes a different amount of time. The Technologist will update you after each segment of the exam. Each room has a speaker in it so the Technologist can hear you if you call out. Obviously, following his instructions & holding still will make for better images and shorter scan times, but don’t hesitate to speak out if you are uncomfortable or need a short break. (Hopefully you took your bathroom break BEFORE the exam started). Some patients fall asleep during their scan. (Snoring is ok, as is sleeping - as long as you don’t move too much).

Crown Imaging