Verona Radiology Pearls:

  • If the imaging is needed STAT (same day or in the next 24-48 hours), keep the patient in the room and have Suzanne meet with them.

  • It is the ordering providers responsibility (i.e. your responsibility) to fill out all fields/click-boxes in imaging orders, so go through these questions with the patient.

  • 2 weeks is the default otherwise for imaging studies like US, MRI, or CT; patients can expect to get a call to schedule from either Suzanne or the Radiology department.

  • Comments, comments, comments! Putting comments in the order (specific questions you hope the study will answer, what location is convenient for the patient, when do you need the study to get done, etc.) always makes the order easier for Radiology


The radiology team at Verona Clinic has the following responsibilities:

  1. Taking x-rays, both same-day and scheduled appointments

  2. Managing/Scheduling referrals & appointments for outside imaging (ultrasounds, MRIs, etc)

  3. Storing braces/splints in the radiology area that are available to patients (feet, wrists, knees, etc). The radiology tech can help you find an item but not fitting it on patients.

Radiographs:

When ordering a radiograph to be done in clinic, put comments in the imaging order of what you’re looking for and what you want to get imaged, since this helps the radiology tech get the right images. After placing the order, inform the radiology tech by paging overhead (#51 on the phone), having your MA page overhead or talking to her in person. If you order multiple x-rays for the same patient it may take a long time (many joints or a bone scan), talk to the radiology tech. If it is not urgent and there are other x-rays to be done, the patient can return for an outpatient imaging appointment on another day (usually scheduled at 8:15 AM or 1:30 PM at Verona Clinic).

MRI/CT:

Answer all questions when prompted to do so, because as it says above, it is the MD's responsibility to enter all of the screening questions for MRIs or CT images. For STAT images, discuss with the radiology tech so she can schedule an appointment before the patient leaves clinic. For MRI/CT, the office note must be completed before the image study can be performed.

OB ultrasounds and non-stress tests:

Radiology tech will schedule these images. If they are STAT requests (for an NST or ultrasound for a miscarriage), talk to the radiology tech so she can schedule the appointment before the patient leaves the clinic.