Oftentimes Asked Questions

  • What is the divergence betwixt a MRI, CT and Ultrasound?
  • How do I ready for the test? What tin can I await during the exam? How long will the test accept?
  • How practice I get an date?
  • Who can refer me for a scan?
  • What is the wait time?
  • How shortly are the results available?
  • How much does it toll?
  • Is the toll of my scan covered by medical services plan (MSP)?
  • Practice you lot accept third party payments?
  • Do I need a referral?
  • Who reads the scans?
  • How do I get the results?
  • What exam should I have?
  • How much radiation volition I be exposed to during my exam?
  • Where are yous located?
  • What are your hours of operation?
  • What happens if I am going to be late or need to cancel?

What is the difference between a MRI, ct and ultrasound?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It uses a potent magnetic field and radio waves to produce highly detailed anatomic images of the body, which are reconstructed past a computer.

CT stands for Computed Tomography. A CT Scanner combines a rotating ten-ray tube and a figurer to produce high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the body.

Ultrasound uses loftier-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of organs, tissues and blood flow. Because ultrasound images are captured in existent time, they tin prove the structure and motility of the body's internal organs too as claret flowing through vessels.

Each modality has its own strengths. To see a nautical chart on MRI vs. CT, please click hither.  [ elevation ]

How do I prepare for the test? What can I expect during the exam? How long will the examination have?

For information on your MRI engagement, click here.

For information on your CT appointment, click here.

For information on your screening CT appointment, click hither.

For information on your Ultrasound engagement, click hither.  [ top ]

How do I become an appointment?

All diagnostic MRI, CT and Ultrasound examinations require a doctor's referral. Please ask your doctor to fill out our requisition course and fax it to our centre at 604-709-6112. Please brand sure your medico'southward function sends us all the relevant data relating to your case, i.eastward. previous imaging reports for the same area, blood work results or specialist reports. For our Physician Referral Form, click here.

For CT screening exams (i.east. Heart or Lung scan) we recommend a md's referral. For more than data on our screening exams, click here.

Nosotros realize that unanticipated events tin can occur and may foreclose you from keeping your date. In fairness and consideration of other patients that demand to exist seen every bit soon as possible, nosotros request that you notify our dispensary equally soon as possible when you realize you will not be keeping an appointment.

Because of the length of time it takes to complete a browse, our appointment times are carefully scheduled.

Late Arrivals

If you lot are more than than 10 minutes tardily for your engagement, you may be asked to wait until the scanner is available or you lot may exist asked to reschedule your date.

Cancellations

Please suggest us at least one full working day prior to your engagement fourth dimension that you need to cancel and/or reschedule. This gives us the opportunity to attempt to make full that slot with another patient who needs a scan. There is no accuse to abolish or reschedule an appointment if sufficient find is given.

If we do not receive at to the lowest degree i full working day's notice, nosotros will charge you a cancellation fee of ten% of your scheduled scan's price. This fee volition exist due in full prior to your next appointment.

No-Shows

If a patient does not make it for an appointment, they volition be charged a 50% counterfoil fee which volition be due in total prior to the patient's next appointment.  [ top ]

Who tin refer me for a scan?

Your Full general Practitioner (GP) or Specialist can send us a referral.  [ top ]

What is the look fourth dimension?

In that location are no waitlists at Canada Diagnostic Centres. Routine appointments are scheduled inside 48 hours of receiving a doctor'due south faxed requisition.  [ top ]

How soon are the results available?

Your md will receive your results within one business day of your scan.  [ top ]

How much does it cost?

For our Fee Schedule, delight click here.

We accept VISA, Primary Card, American Limited or debit carte for payment.  [ top ]

Is the toll of my scan covered by medical services programme (MSP)?

No – We are a individual clinic and the toll of your MRI/CT is not covered under MSP. For more data on payment options, delight click here.  [ height ]

Practice you take third party payments?

Yes – We have tertiary party payment from employers, insurance companies, law firms, etc. 3rd party payers should send a fax cover canvas on company letterhead indicating responsibility for payment. Proof of coverage is required before appointments can exist booked. In one case an appointment has been confirmed for the patient, nosotros will send the tertiary party payer an undertaking form.  [ top ]

Do I need a referral?

All diagnostic examinations require a doctor's referral in compliance with the regulations of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. All MRI and CT results are faxed to the referring doc. All results should be discussed with your primary care provider to determine your adjacent steps and hereafter management.

Patients can self-refer for screening exams if they are healthy and meet age requirements, please click here for more than data.  [ top ]

Who reads the scans?

Our radiologist on site will interpret the results from your exam and dictate a report. Our squad of radiologists is affiliated with Vancouver General Infirmary and UBC Hospital. Many also teach at the Academy of British Columbia. For doctor biographies, click here.  [ top ]

How practise I go the results?

A copy of your results will exist faxed to your doctor within one business twenty-four hours of your browse. If your situation is urgent, nosotros'll immediately phone or fax our report to your healthcare provider.

If you are a private-paying patient, we will also post y'all a copy of the report. Please note our policy does not permit reports to be sent via e-mail or fax to patients.  [ acme ]

What examination should I have?

It is important for you to talk candidly with your doc nearly your symptoms. Your doctor will consider these, along with your medical history and results from other exams when ordering your test.

Once the referral is received at CDC our radiologist will review information technology to ensure that you are being booked for the all-time exams to encounter your diagnostic needs. Our radiologist would be happy to speak directly to your physician to help determine the all-time exam.

If you would like more information on various types of medical imaging tests please visit www.radiologyinfo.org.  [ top ]

How much radiations volition I be exposed to during my examination?

MRIs and Ultrasound do not use ionizing radiation. At Canada Diagnostic Centres, merely CT scans involve the use of radiation. Our dispensary strives to continue radiation exposure as depression as possible and nosotros apply special dose-reduction programming on our CT scanner. In addition, all CT browse referrals are reviewed by our radiologists for ceremoniousness. MRI or Ultrasound will be recommended instead of CT whenever suitable.

Does medical radiation increase your cancer chance?

A person's overall adventure of getting cancer is affected past many things including age, lifestyle habits such as smoking and diet, and genetics. Based on current incidence rates, approximately 4 out of 10 Canadians will develop some blazon of cancer during their lifetime.

The relationship betwixt depression-dose radiations and cancer is highly controversial. All government agree that this very depression association of cancer-causing radiation decreases even more with age.

What should you consider before you have a test that involves radiation?

It is important to reduce unnecessary employ of radiation every bit a way to minimize exposure. For that reason, patients and their doctors must make the decision to employ radiations-based tests on a example-by-instance basis and ensure that the benefits of the test justify its use. Some of the factors your doctor will consider before ordering a radiological test are:

  • Is there an alternative type of test that could be ordered instead? If the same or amend information tin can exist gained using an MRI or ultrasound (neither of which utilise radiations) our radiologists will recommend that the culling be used.
  • Historic period: The older you are the less of an impact medical radiations has on the cells in your body. That is i of the reasons why at CDC we have minimum age requirements for our CT screening exams.
  • Frequency & Dose: Although your body tissues have a groovy capacity to recover from any impairment caused by small amounts of radiation exposure, medical professionals will try to ensure that a patient doesn't have to have repeat scans or x-rays or numerous radiological exams at shut intervals. And since different types of exams crave dissimilar "doses" of radiation, the amount of exposure is considered along with frequency.

You are exposed to radiation every day….

You are exposed to natural groundwork radiation every solar day from the ground, building materials, air, food, outer space (cosmic rays), and even from elements occurring naturally in your body. Here in Vancouver a person receives on average 1.v millisieverts (mSv) of background radiation each year. People living at higher elevations receive more, with the boilerplate North American receiving most iii mSv of groundwork radiation per yr.

For a diagram illustrating the levels of radiation you are exposed to daily compared with medical radiations exposure please click here.

For more data on radiation and cancer please click here.  [ top ]

Where are y'all located?

We are located in Vancouver at Suite 136 – 555 Westward 12th Avenue within Metropolis Foursquare Mall at the corner of Cambie and West 12th Artery. Click hither for "Directions to the Centre."  [ top ]

What are your hours of operation?

Our centre is open Monday through Friday, from viii:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are airtight on statutory holidays.  [ meridian ]

What happens if I am going to exist late or demand to cancel?

Nosotros realize that unanticipated events can occur and may foreclose you from keeping your appointment. In fairness and consideration of other patients that need to be seen equally soon as possible, we request that you notify our dispensary as soon as possible when yous realize you will not be keeping an date.

Because of the length of time it takes to consummate a scan, our appointment times are advisedly scheduled.

Late Arrivals

If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to wait until the scanner is bachelor or you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.

Cancellations

Please propose us at to the lowest degree one full working solar day prior to your appointment time that you demand to cancel and/or reschedule. This gives us the opportunity to attempt to make full that slot with another patient who needs a scan. In that location is no charge to abolish or reschedule an date if sufficient notice is given.

If we practice not receive at least ane total working day'south notice, we volition charge you a cancellation fee of x% of your scheduled scan's price. This fee volition be due in full prior to your adjacent date.

No-Shows

If a patient does non arrive for an engagement, they will exist charged a 50% counterfoil fee which volition be due in full prior to the patient's next appointment.  [ top ]

Note: If our spider web site does not contain the information you lot are looking for, please contact us.