Taking The Stress Out Of Diagnostic Tests

Taking The Stress Out Of Diagnostic TestsDoes the cost of healthcare stress you out?

You?re not alone. A 2014 study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that at least 72 percent of Americans were stressed over financial concerns at least some of the time. Twenty-two percent said they experienced extreme stress about finances. Further, 9 percent said they have considered skipping needed healthcare services and 12 percent had forgone care because of costs.

A 2016 Reuters survey found that 62 percent of Americans ? regardless of party affiliation ? were concerned about healthcare affordability. And a Kaiser Family Foundation study found that half of those without health insurance, and 20 percent with it, have problems dealing with medical debt.

Even those with great employer-sponsored health insurance have felt the pinch, as employers have increased deductibles and cost-sharing to reduce their costs.

For years, we?ve heard Americans need to be better healthcare consumers, taking a more active role in maintaining good health, talking to their physicians and healthcare providers about financial concerns, and being more involved in decision making.

Medical imaging procedures, such as CT scans and MRIs, often allow patients to avoid expensive, painful invasive procedures, such as exploratory surgery. Ultimately, medical imaging saves the patient time, money and discomfort ? but at a cost.

Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI has been helping patients and families reduce the financial stress of healthcare for decades. ?Patients often don?t realize that there is a huge difference in cost between our facility and hospital-based imaging centers,? said Davonna Saier, marketing director at Lexington Diagnostic Center. ?Often, they never question the cost of that hospital study until they receive a bill, and then it?s too late.?

The cost of testing at Lexington Diagnostic Center is substantially lower because LDC specializes in one thing ? medical imaging. ?Our patients aren?t paying huge hospital overhead,? she noted. Costs at Lexington Diagnostic Center are often less than half what one would be charged at a hospital. This saves money for the insurance company, potentially leading to lower premium costs, and for the patient, who often is responsible for co-pays and deductibles.

Further, LDC charges include the radiologist?s fee to read the exam, which is typically extra at hospital imaging centers.

LDC patients know up front what their costs are going to be. Billing specialists work with them and their insurance companies before testing is performed so patients know their cost upfront.

Further, LDC charges include the radiologist?s fee to read the exam, which is typically extra at hospital imaging centers.

LDC patients know up front what their costs are going to be. Billing specialists work with them and their insurance companies before testing is performed so patients know their cost upfront.

At Lexington Diagnostic Center, We Love Our Doctors?

Dr. Privett Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRIWhen you hear the word doctor, your mind naturally goes to those physicians with whom you interact ? your family doctor, cardiologist, even the physician who treated you in the emergency department.

Patients don?t often realize that there are many other physicians involved in their care; doctors they never see. In celebration of National Doctor?s Day on March 30, we wanted to celebrate our three physicians by pulling back the curtain on these highly trained and dedicated specialists.

George Privett, M.D.
Dr. Privett received his medical degree from Baylor University College of Medicine and completed internship and residency in Internal Medicine and Neurology at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and served as Chief of Neurology at Womack Army Hospital in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Dr. Privett is a member of American Academy of Neurology, American Society of Neuroimaging, American Medical Association, Kentucky Medical Association and Lexington Medical Society. He practiced Clinical Neurology and Neuroimaging from 1974-1998; currently practices Neuroimaging and is the Medical Director and owner of Lexington Diagnostic Center & OPEN MRI.

Q. Where are you from originally?
A. Slaton, Texas

Q. What extracurricular activities did you participate in in high school/college?
A. I played football in seventh grade. After that I was in the Slaton High School Marching Band and was Drum Major my senior year. I marched with the Texas Tech Red Raider Marching band 2 years.

Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a physician?
A. For as long as I can remember

Q. How did you come to radiology?
A. Through neurology. When CT scanning came along and allowed the amazing pictures of the brain.

Q. If you weren?t a physician, what would you be?
A. A travel photographer.

Q. What do you like about your job?
A. I like radiology because of the amazing, non-invasive things it can show inside the body.

Q. Tell us a little about your family.
A. I have an amazing blended family and everyone gets along very well. My wife, Nawanna, is a brilliant educator and is sitting for the second term on the Kentucky State Board of Education.

Q. What are your past-times or hobbies?
A. Photography. I love the colors that abound in nature. Singing, particularly classical. I love the way harmonies, melodies and counterpoints come together to make a great song.

Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
A. Lexington, Ky.

Q. What makes Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI a great place to practice?
A. At LDC there is a culture of friendliness, cooperation and team playing, with the emphasis on the patient, who comes first.

Robert Pope, D.O.
Dr. Pope is a board-certified radiologist fellowship trained in musculoskeletal radiology. He completed his residency at Michigan State University, and is a graduate of Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Pope served in the Air Force and practiced at Joint Base Balad-Air Force Theater Hospital Iraq where he was Chief Radiologist. He served as staff radiologist at Eglin Air Force Base where he was the director of MRI and Mammography Services. Dr. Pope is experienced in all aspects of medical imagining with an interest in musculoskeletal MRI and joint and epidural injections.

Q. Where are you from originally?
A. Lexington

Q. What school did you attend?
A. Henry Clay

Q. What extracurricular activities did you participate in in high school/college?
A. Wrestling team at Henry Clay. Helped cultivate a competitive spirit. We didn?t get ribbons for participation.

Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a physician?
A. As a young kid.

Q. How did you come to radiology?
A.? It was a good combination of diagnostic challenges and getting to work with really all branches of medicine.

Q. If you weren?t a physician, what would you be?
A. BBQ Pit Master

Q. What do you like about being a radiologist?
A. Getting to make diagnoses and help people on their way to treating their conditions.

Q. What are your past-times/hobbies?
A. Golf, fishing, music. I find them relaxing.

Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
A. On a boat.

Q. What makes Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI a great place to practice?
A. We save patients money.

Jason Harris, M.D.
Dr. Harris is a board-certified radiologist, fellowship trained in musculoskeletal radiology. He completed his radiology residency at University of Cincinnati and earned his medical degree at University of Louisville. Dr. Harris completed his musculoskeletal fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia. He is experienced in all facets of radiology with an emphasis in musculoskeletal MRI and epidural steroid injections.

Q. Where are you from originally?
A. Louisville, Ky. I attended St. Xavier.
Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a physician?
A. I can?t remember a time when it wasn?t a consideration. I became serious about becoming a physician in college.

Q. How did you come to radiology?
A. The American Board of Radiology administered the oral board examination for the entire country every spring in Louisville for over 35 years. My mom and I both worked the examination, and I got a chance to know some of the best radiologist in the country. It was always a field that I was interested in practicing.

Q. If you weren?t a physician, what would you be?
A. A teacher, probably in high school.

Q. What do you like about being a radiologist?
A. Radiology is one of the most challenging fields in all of medicine. You really have to have a strong knowledge base in many different areas of medicine in order to communicate with referring physicians and participate in taking care of patients. I love to learn, and I learn something every day in radiology.

Q. Do you have any past-times or hobbies?
A. I enjoy spending time with my family, exercising/outdoors, reading, fishing and traveling.

Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
A. Right here in Kentucky. I have traveled all over the world, and have lived in five different states. The more I travel, the more I realize how special Kentucky is to me, and it is where my family lives.

Q. What makes Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI a great place to practice?
A. LDC provides imaging services to our community at an affordable cost. The health care industry has made it difficult for imaging centers like LDC to survive. I am proud to be part of the LDC team, who strive to treat our patients like family.

Valentines From The Staff At Lexington Diagnostic Center

Valentines From Lexington Diagnostic Center

In February, we traditionally spend at least a few hours thinking about those we love ? our children, our parents, our spouses, our ?significant others.? But what about those we work with? At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, we think of one another as family. During this, the month of love, we wanted to share our ?valentines? with you!

?I truly love working at LDC. Yes, it?s a great place to work but it?s the people that make coming to work easy, fun, and worthwhile. I see these people probably more than I see my own family so not only are they my co-workers, they are more like family. If anything, I know I?ve met lifelong friends.?
? Teresa Morris, administrative assistant

?There are so many reasons I love working here. One reason is the administration recognizes employee?s talents beyond their job responsibilities and very few places even attempt that. Personally, I love giving my patients attention in teaching them about their exam, listening to their concerns, and educating them just a little about the system. Every day I get to take care of a patient I am taught something and that just makes me a better tech and person,?
? Karen Harter, nuclear medicine technologist

?I could not ask to be a part of a better organization! LDC truly cares about every person; their commitment to integrity and quality is limitless! I love my LDC Family!?
? Cat Way, radiology technologist

?I have worked in three departments in the six years I have been at Lexington Diagnostic Center, and each department has wonderful, compassionate and very capable people. I think we have the best staff around, from our doctors to our tech aides, the front desk to the billing office and administration. We really care about the work we do and the patients we care for. LDC is like a second family to me and I am proud to work here.?
? Anna McKinney, office assistant

?One thing that makes LDC such a wonderful place to work is the open atmosphere with management.? We have the most amazing management of anywhere I have worked.? And no one here has ever been too busy to ?jump in? and just work. The staff go above and beyond when it comes to teamwork.? It?s nice to work somewhere where people realize that you are human.?
? Darrell Maines, billing specialist

?I?ve never met a more compassionate, hardworking, kind and considerate group of people. I enjoy coming to work and being around these people ? this family ? and doing what I love to do, which is help people, listen and if I?m lucky, make people laugh.?
? Debra Withers, sonographer

?I work with a great group of people. When someone is in need of help, there is someone always willing to help out, no matter how big or small ? someone is always willing to help.?
? Lori Murphy, scheduler

?I?ve been at LDC since 2012, and my favorite thing about working here is my coworkers. We have an excellent staff that cares about our patients.?
? Dr. Robert Pope

?Coming to work for LDC has been one of the best decisions I have ever made ? employees are treated with respect and kindness. I recently lost my husband of 29 years of a sudden unexpected death. I had always felt like this group of people were like family, I now know that they are family. The support from LDC was from the love in their hearts for myself and our family. I am blessed and proud to say I work for Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI.?
? Joyce Newman, billing specialist

?I enjoy working at LDC because they seem to truly appreciate their employees. They acknowledge their hard work, whether it be with a lunch, a gift card or a kind word. That has been a breath of fresh air.?
? Amy Perkins, receptionist

?About 10 years ago my house caught on fire and my three kids and I lost everything. Dr. Privett and LDC collected money and donated kitchen items, clothes, everything. We were living in a hotel and upon returning after my son?s basketball tournament one evening, I was told by the hotel staff to come to the front desk. LDC had paid for another room so that we all didn?t have to be crowded in the one. They also had bought teddy bears, blankets, food and drinks for me and my kids. When we were able to get back in a house, Dr. Privett aided in providing a refrigerator and stove for my new home. I told him I didn?t know how I could pay him back and he said, ?Don?t worry. I know where you work.? I truly have angels here on earth.
? Victoria Guy, front office/scheduling manager

?I have so many close relationships at LDC. During the death of my mother, I was nurtured and comforted by this fabulous group of people. I just feel loved here.?
? Karen Sykes, LDC Nurse

?It truly is a family environment. We are there for each other every day? switching schedules and helping one another out no matter what. You feel the love when you walk in the door.?
? Charley Cordray, MRI technologist

?The heart of the LDC team is our caring staff. We meet patients during their toughest times, and we treat them like family. Every day, I see staff members? compassion for our patients shine. I see it when a receptionist helps with a patient?s paperwork. I see it when a technologist offers extra words of encouragement. At LDC, patient care is why we?re here and I see that in action at every corner. And, our hearts are fullest when we work together to serve people who walk through our doors.?
? Margaret Hancock, administrator

Need medical imaging? We?d love to show you the Lexington Diagnostic Center difference. Give us a call at 859-278-7226. We are conveniently located at 1725 Harrodsburg Road in Lexington.

No Better Time To Say “Thanks” Than Now

We at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI are continuously thankful for the patients who choose to use us for their care; for?the physicians and other healthcare providers who have placed their trust and confidence in us to care for their patients; and for every member of our team, who work diligently to ensure that our patients are well cared for, our testing is of the highest quality and our reputation is sterling.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we wanted to share with you a few of the comments we have received from our patients about their experiences at LDC. We know the best way for people to get to know and trust us is through the experiences of their friends and families.

Raves about our Team
?My technician Karen was so very nice and informative. Very professional and compassionate. I want her to do every procedure I ever have to have in the future!?

?Each and every member of you staff were exceptional. Giving and getting information, caring and concern directed to each patient. A very calming influence which in my case was very appreciated.?

?I have had a number of CT scans at (other facilities). The nursing staff at LDC was the friendliest and most informative I have yet encountered. The Technician who first explained the test and then administered it was by far the most qualified in his knowledge of the procedure and its explanation to me that I have had.? He was expert in the injection ? no bruise, no hesitation, no pain ? a real delight.? All excellent.?

?For my very first time visiting the staff made me feel like I had been there multiple of times. That gave me a such a great feeling and Ms. Debra was so awesome and you definitely made me feel welcomed. Thank You Lexington Diagnostic Center you all are absolutely awesome.?

?Lee Kirkland did a great job explaining everything to me. He made me feel relaxed the whole time. I could tell he genuinely cared.?

?The tech, I think his name was Lee, was also very courteous and explained everything in detail and answered any questions I had.?

Comparing Prices
?Previous people I work with have compared prices to local hospitals and found that Lexington Diagnostics has better pricing and much faster results.? When we send our patients there, their results sometimes beat them back to the office!?

?You offer the same services other facilities offer at a much more reasonable price. Short wait times and a knowledgeable staff. I could have saved myself hundreds of dollars if I had gotten my X-rays here. Hospital charged almost $1,500. For 3 simple X-rays of hands and feet. Taught me a valuable lesson about shopping for the best value for my money.?

Efficiency and Convenience
?I can always count on fast, friendly and knowledgeable service when I am calling LDC in a professional role as well as a personal role.?

?Your office seems like a well-oiled machine.? I like that I left with my disk even though you sent results to 2 different doctors.? Some places I?ve been too seem put out if you ask for a copy of your records.?

?I was extremely appreciative that I was able to come from my physician to get an X-ray without an appointment as I live out of town.? I did not feel very well that day, and I was grateful that I did not have to travel back to Lexington at another time.?

?The most professional medical facility I?ve ever been to. Everyone was so polite and friendly.?

?I was scheduled for 7:30 and there was a wreck and I was actually 30 minutes late for my appointment time. The Staff worked me in anyway, which was awesome because I drove an hour to get there.?

You, too, can discover the convenience and value of having your medical imaging done at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI. We perform a wide array medical imaging exams, including:
? CT scans
? MRI
? Ultrasound
? General x-ray
? Virtual colonoscopy
? Nuclear medicine studies
? Dexa and bone density studies
? Low-Dose CT scanning for lung cancer
? Prostate MRI

So Your Child Needs An MRI. Now What?

When a doctor recommends an MRI or CT scan for your child, your mind races with a million questions: Is it safe? What?s wrong?

Will it help diagnose the problem? Do they know how to take care of a child having an MRI? Will it hurt? Will she be scared? What can I do to make him feel more comfortable? What if she can?t hold still for the test? What if he freaks out? What if I freak out?

It?s normal to be concerned, but the first thing you need to do is to relax yourself! Remember, kids are like little sponges; they soak up the tension, concern and worry exuded by parents and caregivers and squeeze it out as the time for the test or procedure grows near.

Across the U.S., people of all ages undergo MRIs and other medical imaging procedures every day. Sure there are precautions that must be taken, but the healthcare professionals who will perform the tests are just that ? professionals. They have received extensive and ongoing training in caring for both children and adults, and they and put that training into practice every day!

If there?s time, and there usually is, it?s best to talk to your child about the exam and what it will entail, said Karen Sykes, a nurse at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI. Sykes works directly with children undergoing diagnostic imaging, and their parents, to ensure they have the most comfortable experience possible.

There are a variety of ways to talk to your child about an MRI or CT, Sykes said. For younger kids, parents may compare the experience to getting a photograph taken. It?s something they are all familiar with (think smart phone cameras and selfies) and so it?s no big deal.

Kids who are especially inquisitive may want to know about the kind of ?camera? being used and how it can take pictures of things inside your body. Showing them MRI and CT images online can help them understand and most kids are excited to learn that they will leave Lexington Diagnostic Center with a disk of their images they can view at home!

Older children may want to know about the science of an MRI or a CT. For them, you may want to do a little research so you can answer basic questions. ?I recommend parents do some online research,? Sykes said. ?There are videos available that show pediatric MRIs and teaches kids what will happen during the test.? Familiarity will be reassuring to children. YouTube has both live action and animated videos.

Some parents employ a little ?bribery? to ensure cooperation: a special treat after successful completion of the exam. For a little one, that might mean an ice cream cone. For an older child, perhaps it?s a Mommie-and-Me day at the beauty salon or a new video game. Make it something you?ll both look forward to and remember

Reassure your child that the people who will be taking care of them will do their very best for them. At Lexington Diagnostic Center, a parent or loved one may sit or stand beside the MRI machine so the child never feels alone in the exam room.

During the actual exam, the technologist may ask the child to play a little game that will help them to hold very still. The child may be asked to pretend they are in a rocket ship taking off for the moon; or are a statue in the park; or even frozen. The games are designed to help the child hold still during the active scan period.

Depending on the test, you may be able to accompany the child into the scan room during the procedure. Kids can choose their own music during the scan and younger ones may be able to take a favorite blanket into the scanner with them. All kids having a scan at Lexington Diagnostic Center receive a stuffed animal to take home after the test.

A lot of parents ask about open MRI for their kids, Sykes said, but this equipment may not be the best choice ? it requires children to hold still for much longer periods of time, Sykes noted. ?Parents ask about open MRI because they may be a little claustrophobic themselves,? she said, ?But it?s important to remember there?s a lot more room in an MRI machine when you?re a 50-pound child than when you are 200-pound adult male. Claustrophobia may not even be a problem.?

?The vast majority of the time, we can get a scan done for a child when no one else has been able to,? Sykes said, ?because we work very hard to help the child and parent feel comfortable and at ease. Our facility isn?t as scary as a hospital and we certainly take the time to work with them one-to-one,? she noted. ?We treat every patient with warmth and compassion and we are especially skilled at working with patients and children with special needs, including infants, children, the elderly and those with developmental disabilities.?

If your child is scheduled to have an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, nuclear medicine or even a general X-ray, give Lexington Diagnostic Center a call at (859) 278-7226 Or call toll free 800-755-7441 to learn more about our child ? and family-friendly services. You?ll be glad you did.

Meet Nurse Karen Sykes
Karen Sykes, a licensed practical nurse, is originally from Elkhorn City deep in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

She returned to the mountains after attending school at Eastern Kentucky University. It was at this time that she found her life?s work: nursing. Sykes graduated from the nursing program at Mayo Tech in 1982. During her career, she has worked in all areas of nursing, including pediatrics, cardiac, geriatrics, critical care, neurology, IV therapy and emergency services.

Sykes came to Lexington Diagnostic Center in 1999 to ?help out for a couple of days? while the practice searched for a full-time nurse. After a short time, Sykes came to realize Lexington Diagnostic was where she needed to be.

Seventeen years later, Sykes provides all of the nursing care at the Center and serves on the practice?s management team. She, and her staff, will take on any challenge, but patient care is her specialty. Her patients often comment on how kind and caring she is, how they felt like they were the only patient Sykes had that day. Her compassion and experience make it possible for her to care for a diverse patient population, including infants, those with special needs, the very ill and elderly.

A mother of two (and grandmother, too), Sykes knows what it?s like to have a sick child and works hard to put parents? minds at ease and to answer all questions in a way that is complete, concise and understandable.

The FYI On Your MRI

Open MRI SystemChances are, you or someone you know has needed an MRI scan at some point. We?ve at least all heard of an MRI and might imagine?ourselves getting in to that big white tube! But what exactly are we getting ourselves in to? With the help of Paula Bracken, chief radiologic technologist at Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI, let?s explore what you should know, consider, and expect when you need an MRI.

What is an MRI?
As Paula explains, ?MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a non-invasive scan that uses a large magnet, pulses of radiofrequency waves, and a computer to create detailed, 2D and 3-D images of organs and structures within your body?. Physicians often use MRI imaging to diagnose conditions that may not be adequately assessed using other imaging methods such as X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan.

An MRI is often used to:
? Examine the joints, brain, spine, nerves, abdominal organs, breasts, reproductive organs and other soft tissues
? Assess blood vessels for clots and areas of narrowing
? Detect tumors and diagnose many forms of cancer
? Evaluate infections
? Assess injuries to bones, joints and muscles
? Achieve more detailed images than other imaging modalities

MRIs are often preferred over X-rays and CT scans because they don?t emit potentially harmful radiation. Here?s how it works:
1. The MRI scanner is a very strong magnet that is always turned on.
2. Since the body is made up of mostly water, hydrogen protons in the water are utilized to create an image.
3. An antenna is placed around the area of your body to be scanned.
4. You are moved into the magnetic field of the machine and the hydrogen protons go from spinning randomly to aligning with the magnetic field.
5. Radiofrequency pulses are introduced to move the protons into different positions and the antenna ?listens? to the echoes from the protons as they relax.
6. The information is sent to a computer that creates the image.

Where to have your MRI
Many patients ?go with the flow? and have their scan performed at the hospital, not realizing they have options for comfort, convenience, and cost-savings. Paula says she?s proud to provide superior care and quality at LDC. ?We offer an MRI for every need, and we take care of our patients at a fair price that they?ll find is much less expensive than at other facilities,? says Paula.

An MRI for every need
If even just the thought of that big white tube makes you cringe with claustrophobia, rest assured there?s an option for you. You can even have a loved one stay close by for support. That option is also great for little patients who want a parent close by. Lexington Diagnostic Center utilizes modern equipment and procedures to produce the best images possible while ensuring the patient?s comfort. There are three different MRI machine options to accommodate various patient needs and preferences.

In some cases, sedation may be required or requested for the patient. There is no charge for sedation at LDC. You will need to arrange for a driver to take you home.

What to expect and how to prepare:
Talk to your doctor?s referring coordinator or scheduler when your scan is ordered and they can set up your appointment with Lexington Diagnostic Center. LDC will receive your doctor?s orders and will call you to confirm your appointment. Be sure to let LDC know ahead of time if you?ve had a scan of the same area previously at another location so that images can be compared. Paula shares that LDC takes pride in making sure the entire process is easy and convenient for the patient. She says, ?We make sure patients have their appointment in a timely manner, without hassle, and are made as comfortable as possible while receiving superior image quality.?

MRI procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Eat, drink and take your medications as usual unless instructed otherwise. If you are scheduled for an abdominal MRI, you might be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for two hours prior to your appointment.

For the scan, you?ll be asked to change into a hospital gown and remove any metal items including:
? Jewelry
? Hairpins
? Eyeglasses
? Watches
? Wigs
? Dentures
? Hearing aids

The MRI machine is a large, tube-shaped machine that the patient enters while lying comfortably on an exam table. The machine can get loud, so earplugs and headphones are available. The radiology technologist will be close by, keeping you informed and making sure you?re comfortable. You can stop the exam any time to ask questions or express concerns.

Most MRI scans take about 30 minutes to perform for each study. Afterward, the pictures will be reviewed by the radiologist and a report will be sent to your doctor.

Why choose Lexington Diagnostic Center for your MRI?
They are committed to providing the most convenient high-quality MRI imaging services for patients and their physicians. LDC offers:

? Ease of scheduling with typically same-week appointments
? Board Certified Musculoskeletal Fellowship Trained Radiologists to interpret your results
? Highly trained technologists to ensure your comfort and safety
? CD of images for each patient to have and share with their healthcare provider
? An integrated electronic medical records system that provides your referring physician easy access to your images
? Evening and Saturday appointment times
? Front door parking

From Bats to CATs: What You Don?t Know About Imaging!

Nuclear Medicine ScanWe often don?t give much thought to the forces around us ? gravity, electromagnetic fields, sound waves, light, radio waves, radiation.?But the discovery and study of these natural forces, and our own creativity, led to the development of one of the most important fields of medicine today:

Diagnostic Imaging
Most of us know someone, or may be someone, who has had at least one diagnostic imaging study: an MRI, CT Scan, X-ray, Ultrasound, or Nuclear Medicine study. At Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI, we know how important our imaging services are to our patients and their doctors. But how did we arrive at today?s use of modern medical technology? You might be surprised!

X-ray
Discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen of W?rzburg, Germany, we started to use x-rays in the U.S. within just a few months. By the outbreak of World War I in 1914, most hospitals were equipped with x-ray machines. The ability to locate bullet fragments in soldiers became a crucial tool for saving their lives.

The general x-ray is the workhorse of diagnostic imaging and are frequently used to diagnose broken bones and other musculoskeletal conditions. Although x-rays pass through the soft tissues of the body rather easily, they are also useful in diagnosing conditions of internal organs, including the lungs (pneumonia, TB, cancer), breasts (cancer), abdomen (digestive disorders), heart (enlargement) and pelvis (reproductive disorders). A general diagnostic x-ray can help your physician make an informed decision about additional imaging or testing to aid in a diagnosis. Ultrasound Way back in the 1790?s, Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani?s first studied ultrasound physics when he discovered that bats use soundwaves to navigate in the dark (echolocation). It took some time, but the idea to measure soundwaves eventually led to the development of the medical ultrasound, first used in 1956.

The principle behind ultrasound is pretty simple ? specialized equipment detects changes in high-frequency soundwaves as they pass through the body and are reflected back. A picture is built based on those changes.

Ultrasound can also capture the actual functioning of organs in real time. For example, a cardiac ultrasound allows the physician to see blood passing through the chambers of the heart, to measure the force of the blood as it leaves the heart, and to look at the heart?s valves as they open and close. Your doctor might order a cardiac ultrasound if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, or a murmur.

Ultrasound is the second-most commonly used diagnostic imaging procedure. It is useful for diagnosing problems of the urinary tract, gall bladder, kidney, liver, ovaries, pancreas, spleen, thyroid, uterus and blood vessels. A carotid ultrasound (and Doppler) can help physicians diagnose blocked arteries before a stroke occurs. Ultrasound involves no radiation exposure?Nuclear Medicine
When we think ?nuclear?, our minds may go to weapons or power plants. In fact, nuclear medicine is an important and unique tool in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. The development of nuclear medicine spans decades and includes contributions from scientists, physicists, and engineers.

Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive substances ? or ?radiotracers? ? to get a picture of a particular area of the body. For example, radioactive iodine-125 tends to go to the thyroid gland. Measuring the thyroid?s ?uptake? of this radioactive substance allows doctors to see how the gland is functioning. In addition to the thyroid, nuclear medicine can be used to study conditions of the bones, heart, lungs, liver, and many other internal organs.

Nuclear medicine studies involve an injection or an oral dose of radiation and then imaging collects the resulting data. These procedures are extremely safe and very simple. Nuclear medicine studies measure the function of the organ or structure and, because of this, often shows abnormalities much earlier than other forms of imaging.

CT Scan (AKA the ?Cat Scan?)
The first clinical CT scan was performed on October 1, 1971 on a young lady in London, England who doctors suspected of having a brain tumor. The scan took hours to complete, but launched a new era of modern neuroimaging. Short for Computerized Axial Tomography, today?s CT scans use computer equipment and x-ray technology to create incredibly detailed, three-dimensional images quickly and comfortably. CT scans are often used in emergencies because the scan takes less than five minutes, compared to up to 30 minutes for an MRI.

The use of CT scans is on the rise, possibly because the public is increasingly aware of the signs of a stroke. Because patients are more knowledgeable than before, they?re arriving at the ER earlier in the stroke scenario, when the most can be done for them. As a result, more CT scans are being ordered so physicians can start the right treatment quickly.

CTs can also be ordered to diagnose back and spine problems, brain tumors and joint disease. An imaging procedure, called the Low Dose CT (LDCT) has recently been approved by Medicare/Medicaid as a tool for the early detection of lung cancer. This is a very promising step forward in turning the tide on this cancer. A CT scan is a powerful tool as it provides a wealth of information. However, a CT scan does expose the patient to relatively higher doses of radiation, so it?s important for you and your doctor to balance risks with benefits.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI
When Dr. Raymond Damadian was a boy growing up in New York, his grandmother lost her painful battle with breast cancer, fueling his pursuit of a career in medical research. Dr. Damadian would eventually invent the MRI machine, which was first used to perform a full-body scan in 1977.

MRI works by using a very powerful magnet to align the hydrogen atoms inside the body. Radio waves are then used to disturb this alignment, causing the atoms to vibrate. Highly advanced computer programs generate detailed images from the vibrations. Like CT scans, detailed, three-dimensional views are available with an MRI. Unlike CT, there is no radiation exposure.

MRIs are used to diagnose a variety of disorders, including tumors, aneurysms, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, eye and inner ear problems. A form of MRI, called fMRI (functional MRI), can measure brain function. For example a head MRI can help determine whether you sustained any damage from a head injury. Your doctor may order a head MRI to investigate symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, seizures, changes in thinking or behavior, blurry vision, or chronic headaches.

Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI has three MRI machines:
? Open. This equipment is very comfortable and open on 3 sides. It is an excellent option for patients who may be claustrophobic, and it can accommodate various body types.
? 1.5T. This fast-acting machine is open at both ends and provides high-quality images.
? 3T. The 3T is also open at both ends, offers very high resolution, and is excellent for orthopedic, neuro and prostate imaging.

Many brilliant minds and historical events lead to today?s options for life-saving imaging. Discuss the options with your doctor next time you need a scan, and remember that you have a choice of where to have imaging performed.? Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI provides quality, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging. We offer affordable MRI, CT, ultrasound, DEXA/Bone Density Scans, x-ray and imaged guided fluoroscopy epidural and joint injections.

PACS Portal System Offers Quality, Security, Accessibility

Lexington Diagnostic Center?s PACS Portal System Offers Quality

They were pictures of first birthdays, graduations, vacations, home renovations, the dog catching a Frisbee ? things that mattered to you in the moment. You likely shared a good number of them on Instagram or Facebook, but at least half of the photos you took were never printed or backed up.

Five years from now, you will be lucky if you can find that photo of little William destroying his first birthday cake. Even if you can, there is no guarantee the technology will be compatible.

So imagine the headache it would be if you took tens of thousands of images every year, could never delete them, and lives depended upon them being accessible a moment?s notice.

Welcome to the world of medical imaging.
Imaging studies ? X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc. ? are the lifeblood of modern medicine. Millions of diagnostic studies are performed in the U.S. each year, generating multiple images, each of which must be reviewed by a radiologist (the physician who specializes in interpreting medical images); permanently stored; and made accessible to the healthcare provider responsible for the patient?s care. All of this has to be available not just today, but for months and years into the future, and not just in Lexington, but anywhere the patient might seek care.

The system that makes all of this possible is called PACS ? Picture Archiving and Communications System. Since 1996, Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI has been on the forefront of adopting digital imaging and using PACS to ensure imaging studies are accessible, when needed, wherever needed.

Tim Valenta, IT manager at Lexington Diagnostic Center, is responsible for ensuring all is well with the PACS system. ?Many people are relying on the images we capture at Lexington Diagnostic Center to make important decisions about treatment, and those images have to be available to them 24 hours a day, seven days a week,? Valenta said. ?It?s a responsibility I take very seriously.?

PACS is about more than just storing images and radiologists? reports, Valenta notes. Digital imaging and PACS have led to improvements in diagnosis and treatment, patient outcomes, speed, convenience and much more.

?It?s rather like the difference between a bicycle and a motorcycle,? Valenta said. Both will get you to where you need to go, but the motorcycle will get you there faster, with a lot less effort. Gone are the plates, films and chemicals needed to process the film. Gone are the dusty film storage rooms and cumbersome retrieval methods. Today, referring physicians can retrieve a patient?s study quickly over a secure Internet connection and patients leave LDC with a disc containing all of the images from their study.

Quality has improved, too. Just like the photos you take with your iPhone, sophisticated software allows the digital images to be enhanced. The radiologist can zoom in for a closer look at a particular segment of the image; change the brightness and contrast; take accurate measurements of structures; and, depending on the imaging modality, add color or create three-dimensional images.

?All of this has led to great improvements in the ability to detect changes indicative of disease or injury,? Valenta noted. Lexington Diagnostic Center began archiving its studies digitally in 1996, ensuring continuity from then to now.

The format used to store these medical images is called DICOM (Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine). The DICOM standard ensures that images captured at Lexington Diagnostic Center can be viewed at nearly any healthcare facility anywhere in the world, including a hospital in Lexington, Myrtle Beach or even London, England.

This is reassuring for patients who travel a lot or who winter in another part of the country, Valenta noted, because patients know should something happen with their health, prior imaging studies are only a few clicks away via our secure provider portal.

Accessible ? yet very secure
Keeping health information accessible to those who have a legitimate need to access it, and safe from those who do not ? is a top priority at Lexington Diagnostic Center, Valenta said.

A U.S. Navy Veteran who served as an electronics technician aboard a nuclear sub, Valenta knows about security. ?Our systems are top-notch,? he said. ?The internal network is constantly audited access restricted to only those people who need to have access to provide care to that particular patient at that particular moment.?

Referring physicians and providers can access imaging studies only through LDC?s secure provider portal and only after being granted access. Lexington Diagnostic meets both federal HIPAA and HIM guidelines, Valenta noted.

It is a big responsibility, but one that the entire staff at Lexington Diagnostic Center takes to heart. ?Every single member of our team is committed not only to providing the highest quality of imaging studies, but to protecting our patients? privacy and health information,? Valenta noted.

Terms to Know
PACS ? Picture Archiving and Communication Systems. The platform for storing and communicating digital images within a radiology practice, department or hospital.

DICOM ? Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine. The ?language? used to store and communicate medical images.

EHR/EMR ? Electronic Health/Medical Record. The ?electronic file? that contains all of a patient?s health information, including outpatient tests and treatments, office visits, hospitalizations, etc.

HIPAA ? Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The federal law, passed in 1996, that both ensures that people are able to acquire health insurance as they change jobs (portability) regardless of existing medical conditions and protects the privacy of their health information. HIPAA established national standards for electronic healthcare transactions.

PHI ? Personal Health Information or Protected Health Information. The information identified by the federal government to protected from unauthorized disclosure.

HIM ? Health Information Management ? The process of acquiring, analyzing and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care.

Meet Tim Valenta
The IT manager at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, Tim Valenta is a native of Minneapolis, Minn. He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating high school in American Fork, Utah and served six years aboard a nuclear submarine as an electronics technician.

Upon returning home, Valenta served 18 months as a missionary in Argentina. Prior to joining Lexington Diagnostic Center in 1995, Valenta worked for Unisys Corp. and with Fonar, one of the first manufacturers of MRI systems in the U.S.

Today, Valenta is responsible for designing and maintaining Lexington Diagnostic Center?s information technology network, computer systems, communications equipment, and PACS system. He also provides custom programming solutions to improve workflow at LDC. He has more than 30 years experience with electronics and computer systems.

Lexington Diagnostic Center offers High-Field MRI, Open MRI, CT, Ultrasound, X-ray, Nuclear Medicine, DEXA, and image-guided joint and epidural injections.

From Employee To Patient

“Ms Baker, if you needed surgery, would you have it done?” Was I hearing this correctly? Did the endocrinologist I met for the first time say “surgery”? My next step was to get another medical opinion on this. I emailed my primary care physician and since I am an employee at LDC, I asked Dr. Pope. He looked at my recent lab values and said, “If you don’t have broken bones, you will”.

I heard from my primary care physician and she said, “Eventually, you will progress to surgery.”

I learned I have a parathyroid disease. My next step was to call the endocrinologist’s office and with a stumbling voice, said, “I think I want to have the surgery done”.

So I was sent to a surgeon for evaluation. His first order was a nuclear medicine parathyroid scan. The next scan was a CT and the final scan was a 3T MRI (our newest machine).

As an employee at LDC, I decided to have that done at my office. I have worked as a medical transcriptionist for 16 years there, but I am an introvert and hesitated to share my personal health information with my co-workers. However, I swallowed my pride because I knew this was the best place to go and it would also to save me money. Since LDC is not affiliated with a hospital, their prices are significantly more affordable.

I am so glad I chose to have my scans at my place of employment. I encountered my coworkers from a different viewpoint. This time, as a patient.

Of course I knew my treatment would be personal because I was an employee, but what I didn’t expect was the great level of professionalism, knowledge, skills, courtesy and kindness that our unique employees displayed.

For the nuclear medicine scan, Karen Harter called me the day before my test and explained what would happen and what to expect. I was injected with contrast and images were taken. Then I returned 3 hours later and more images were taken. I was made comfortable and I felt no ill-effects from the contrast injection. I simply laid on the table and held still while Karen operated the machine. Dr. Pope told me the results later–a small benign tumor was found on one of my parathyroid glands.

The surgeon ordered a CT scan next. For this scan, I had the help of technologist Aaron Seul and our nurse Karen Sykes. Karen asked me all the safety questions before I was injected with contrast and the CT scan was taken. I was cleared for the administration of IV contrast, and so I was injected with a different type of contrast this time. My head felt warm and I had a metallic taste in my mouth, but I felt no ill-effects afterwards. Again, all I had to do was lay still and not move in order for Aaron to get clear pictures, similar to taking pictures with a camera. If a camera is shaken while taking the picture, the picture will be fuzzy. It is a similar process with getting a CT, nuclear medicine or MRI scan.

In the process of all this, I found that all my coworkers in all departments knew their jobs and did them well. I was amazed at the skills of everyone including reception, billing, scheduling, technologist and the radiologist. I saw our team at their best.

My last scan was an MRI. Some people are claustrophobic about going inside the MRI machine because it feels similar to being in a cave or coal mine. I drew on personal experience to help me through the scan.

When I was a kid, my friends and I explored caves around my hometown Mt. Vernon, KY. A favorite game was “can you get through fat man’s squeeze”. This is narrow spot in the cave that makes passage difficult and a bit scary because caves have no sunlight and without a flashlight, there is no light at all in caves.

After working at LDC for 16 years, I knew it was important to lay very still while inside the MRI in order for the technologist to get clear pictures for the radiologist to review and interpret. I drew on this experience when I was taking my MRI scan. I simply thought of “fat man’s squeeze”, closed my eyes, breathed deeply and prayed when I was put into the closed 1.5 high-field MRI.

However, after just a few minutes of being in the MRI, it was decided that the 3T MRI might give a better picture of my specific tumor.

So I was moved upstairs to the 3T MRI, with the help of Paula, Cat and Brett. These three were also very professional, skilled and courteous. I had never seen this side of my co-workers on a personal level only observing from the sidelines. Since some scans were already finished, it was time for the scans to be done after contrast was injection. Brett did the injection and it was nearly pain free. This contrast was the third type of contrast, and I felt no ill effects from the injection. I repeated my earlier practice of closing my eyes, breathing deeply and praying.

The scan was finished and now it was time to wait until Dr. Pope had time to review my images. When he did, he said, “I can see the adenoma (benign tumor)”. The other transcriptionist Pam typed my report and it was faxed to my surgeon’s office the next day.

LDC had provided me a CD of all three scans, so I hand delivered them to my surgeon’s office. Confident that the surgeon had all the information he needed to do the surgery, I went home. A few days later, his surgery scheduler called me to schedule the surgery.

I had a successful surgical procedure to remove the tumor and have recovered completely. I am thankful to have seen my co-workers in a completely different light-?as a vulnerable anxious patient. It is clear to me that the employees of Lexington Diagnostic Center live out their mission which is to provide quality compassionate medical imaging care. I am proud to work at such a place.

Making Outstanding Care, Superior Quality Convenient and Affordable

When it?s time for an imaging study ? CT scan, MRI, ultrasound ? many patients simply ?go with the flow? in the belief that there are no choices or that all of the choices are essentially the same.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, located on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington offers patients not only outstanding, personal care but superior quality as well. With full-time board-certified and fellowship-
trained radiologists, experienced, certified technical staff, commitment to the patient and family, and state-of-the-art equipment, Lexington Diagnostic Center is able to deliver a much higher level of care than is available anywhere else.

?Diagnostic imaging is all we do,? said Davonna Saier, Marketing Director for Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI. ?This singular focus allows LDC to schedule patients quickly, conduct tests efficiently, provide outstanding quality and reporting and do it all at a cost significantly less than what patients might pay elsewhere.?

Patients are sometimes concerned that imaging studies performed outside a hospital setting won?t be readily available to their physicians, or can?t be compared to previous studies. ?That is absolutely not a concern,? Saier said. ?Lexington Diagnostic Center provides an advanced Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) which allows the referring physician to access our radiologists? reports and imaging studies from their own computers, or even from the surgery suite at the local hospitals,? Saier said.

Further, every patient who has imaging performed at LDC leaves the center that day with a disk containing all of the images captured during the visit. ?They can take the images directly to their doctor for review and, of course, the images are always archived here at the center for future reference if needed.? Patients also have access to all of their study reports from Lexington Diagnostic through a secure internet connection, the Patient Portal.

As for comparing today?s images to those captured months or even years ago, Lexington Diagnostic Center is able to request those images from other medical facilities for comparison purposes ? continuity of care ? without issue. ?We have a courier who runs between all the medical

facilities daily picking up imaging studies and returning them here, to the Center, where our radiologists use them to compare today?s studies with any studies performed previously,? Saier said. ?It is very important we compare our studies to any prior images that have been done before.?

There is no charge to the patient for this service ? and no hassle either. ?All they need to do is tell us where they had the images taken and when, and we?ll take care of the rest,? Saier said.

It?s one advantage of having imaging done at LDC that many patients really appreciate, she added. Another benefit is how convenient and easy it is to have testing done at Lexington Diagnostic. With evening and Saturday hours, patients never have to wait weeks to have a test scheduled. And when you arrive at the center for testing, you can feel confident that your test will be performed and you?ll be on your way quickly. There are no long waits caused by numerous emergency cases bumping the schedule. Results are reported to the referring physician quickly, typically in less than 72 business hours, Saier noted.

One of the most important considerations for patients receiving care anywhere is cost. Patients at Lexington Diagnostic Center have peace of mind knowing exactly how much their imaging study will cost, and what their out-of-pocket costs will be. Most patients will save hundreds of dollars by choosing to have their MRIs, CTs and other radiology tests performed at LDC instead of the local hospital.

?That?s because hospitals have to cover all of that overhead ? the cafeteria, laundry, parking garages ? it?s all rolled up into every patient?s bill. At Lexington Diagnostic Center, imaging is the only thing we do. We keep our overhead costs low and that keeps our prices low, too. And the Radiologist fee is included, so you won?t receive an extra bill from the physician.?

Taking advantage of the Lexington Diagnostic Center difference is quite easy. All you have to do is speak up when your doctor orders an imaging procedure for you. ?Most patients don?t realize they have the right to decide where they?ll go for a test or procedure,? Saier said. When patients fail to express a preference, the doctor?s office will schedule the procedure where it is most convenient for them ? usually the hospital.

Sometimes patients feel uncomfortable telling physician they need find a less expensive alternative to the hospital, Saier noted. That?s natural. But, she added, ?Your doctor should be just as concerned about your financial health as he or she is about your physical health.?

Cost transparency is an important part of the Lexington Diagnostic Center patient care philosophy. ?It?s important for patients to know not only how much a test will cost, but what they will be responsible for in terms of co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance,? Saier said. LDC works with the patient?s insurer to determine the out-of-pocket costs before testing is performed. Patients are informed up front of the total cost, usually at least 48 hours before their appointment. Payment is collected on the day of their imaging appointment.

?This means patients never have to worry about getting a bill they didn?t expect 30 or 60 days later,? Saier said. And, unlike hospitals, Lexington Diagnostic?s bill includes the radiologist?s professional fees. ?There will ever only be one, all-inclusive bill from us,? Saier said. ?You?ll never receive a bill in the mail later with a fee you didn?t know about.?

LDC accepts most all insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. ?We?ve actually had them conference in on the phone with patients to reschedule them from a higher-priced facility to us. We save money for insurance companies and for patients. That?s why it?s so important to shop for healthcare costs. Always call and compare prices,? Saier added.

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