Your Examination
Your referral to Radiology
General Practitioners (GPs), Nurse practitioners, Specialists, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Dentists are some of the people who can request a radiology examination if necessary.
Self referrals are accepted for Mammography – for a Routine mammogram (when no symptoms or concerns are present)
PREPARATION FOR THE EXAMINATION
Some examinations require a special diet or pre-examination preparation. When you make your appointment this information will be given to you. If you are unsure if you need preparation for your examination, or are unsure how to go about the preparation, please don't hesitate to ask our staff.
WHO WILL DO YOUR EXAMINATION?
Your examination will be performed by a Radiologist (a Doctor specialised in medical imaging), a Medical Imagaing Technologist (a specially trained x-ray technician) , or a Sonographer (a technician with ultrasound training)
AFTER YOUR EXAMINATION
After your examination the Radiologist or Medical Imaging Technologist will let you know whether you need to wait, or if your examination is completed.
Image Access
All imaging at Hamilton Radiology Ltd is digital. Images are available online for referrers/Medical providers in a secure database. These are available immediately following the completion of the examination.
YOUR EXAMINATION REPORT
The Radiologist sends a written report to the person who referred you for the examination. The expected report timeframe is usually a maximum of 4 hours following the examination.
This report will be sent electronically by secure health link email, or by fax or mail – the method of report dispatch has been set up by your referrer.
You should contact your referrer and discuss the examination report with them.
STORING YOUR FILMS
On most occasions you will be able to take the CD away with you when you finish your appointment. Please arrange with our receptionist if these need to be sent to your specialist. Please keep them safely, as they may be useful to compare with future studies.
If you are coming for an examination and have films at home of the same body area, please ask the receptionist (when you make your appointment) whether you should bring them with you.
Accounts
A fee is payable for most examinations. In most cases you will have been given an estimate for the cost of the examination.
Payment for your examination is expected on the day unless you have received prior approval from your insurance company and therefore they will pay us if you send the account to them with your prior approval number.
VALUABLES
We cannot accept responsibility for your valuables. Please leave them at home or take them into the examination room with you.
RADIATION SAFETY
Our aim is to minimise your exposure to X-rays. Our work practice always adheres to the radiation exposure reduction principle of “as low as reasonably achievable”
If you think you could be pregnant, and are to have a study using X-rays, please discuss this with the Medical Imaging Technologist or Radiologist.
Mobile PHONES
The recording or imaging of examinations and/or our staff is not permitted. Please do not use your mobile phone during your examination.
COMMENTS, COMPLIMENTS AND COMPLAINTS
We value your feedback and comments. Please complete a feedback submission through our website.
Hamilton Radiology send out regular Patient surveys also, if you do receive a survey request, we would appreciate your comments. These help us to determine if we are meeting our desired standard of care and service to you.
Contrast Media
Contrast agents are substances used to enhance the visibility of internal body structures in X-ray-based imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), radiography, and fluoroscopy.
Contrast agents are typically iodine or barium compounds.