The Diagnostic Imaging Department has “State of the Art” equipment for General Radiography and Fluoroscopy, Mammography and Breast Screening, Ultrasound and Bone Mineral Densitometry.

The department offers a full range of diagnostic services inclusive within all above mentioned modalities as well as Electrocardiography (ECG’s).

The department is fully staffed between 08:00 hours and 16:00 hours with one X-Ray Technologist on duty from 16:00 hours to 24:00 hours and on call from 24:00 hours to 08:00 hours, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays the department is staffed for Inpatient and Emergency examinations from 07:30 hours to 15:30 hours and on call from 15:30 hours to 07:30 hours.

We offer the services of two full time Radiologists, with the additional aid of Radiologists off site.

Imaging Equipment

• General Radiography Room
• Remote Fluoroscopy Unit
• Mammography Unit with Stereotactic Biopsy Unit
• Four Color Doppler Ultrasound Units
• Bone Mineral Densitometry Unit
• 2 ECG Units

Services

General Radiography
This field encompasses all plain film radiographs taken of the body. These examinations may be routine out patients, emergency or inpatient examinations. General Radiography examinations do not require scheduling appointments, but as with all imaging examinations (excluding OBSP), requisitions signed by a doctor or Nurse Practitioner are essential.

Fluoroscopy
These examinations require “real time” X-Rays or fluoroscopy to visualize areas of the body, usually with the administration of some type of contrast material.

These examinations require a scheduled appointment and usually involve preliminary preparation.

• Barium Enema (assessment of the lower GI tract
• Small Bowel Series (assessment of the small intestine)
• GI Series (assessment of the upper GI tract)
• Arthrography (assessment of a joint with contrast injection)
• Facet Joint Injection (steroid injection to a joint)
• Venography (assessment of circulatory veins or fistula’s)
• Sinogram (investigation of a fistula or sinus)

Special Procedures

• Intravenous Pyelography (assessment of the Urinary tract, often with the assistance of linear tomography)
• Sialography (assessment of the salivary glands with the injection of contrast)
• Tomography (assessment of specific areas of interest with linear tomography)

Mammography and OBSP

• Diagnostic Mammography
• Breast Screening
• Needle localization
• Core biopsy (Stereotactic and Ultrasound guided)
• Cyst aspiration

Mammography examinations are carried out with state of the art equipment with dedicated processing.

RVH offers two breast imaging programs, Diagnostic Mammograms which are scheduled examinations, and require an authorized requisition and the Breast Screening Program (OBSP).

Breast Screening (OBSP) is scheduled appointments, which are open to any women over the age of 50, who do not currently have any breast complications. These appointments do not require a requisition or Doctor’s order. The only requirements are that you be 50 years or over and that one year has lapsed since your last mammogram. The OBSP Program also requires that women are Ontario residents, that they have not had breast cancer, and do not currently have breast implants.

The RVH Breast Screening Program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), which adheres to the highest standards of practice guidelines.

Breast screening offers the service of a Nurse Examiner who will do a complete physical breast examination as well as instruction on self breast examination in parallel with the actual mammogram.

Both the Diagnostic and Screening programs provide continued client follow up.

In 2002 we achieved recognition by Cancer CareOntario as a, “Breast Assessment Centre”, and provide a complete range of care including screening, diagnosis, surgery and follow-up. Clients may be referred for ductography, aspiration, stereotactic needle biopsy or Ultrasound guided biopsy all of which can be done in house.

We work with the Women’s Wellness clinic to provide a full range of women’s programs.

Ultrasound

There are four Ultrasound units in the Department offering a complete range of Ultrasound procedures.

• Abdominal/pelvic/trans vaginal
• Sonohystogram (with saline infusion)
• Vascular (carotid, arterial, venous, dialysis A-V fistulas)
• Small parts (breast, neck, lumps, scrotum)
• Musculoskeletal
• Obstetrical
• Paediatric
• Ultrasound guided interventional procedures such as core biopsies, Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies as well as Centesis (fluid drainage procedures)
• Echo (cardiac)

All ultrasound examinations require signed requisitions, scheduled appointments and specific preparation. It is essential that the preparation is appropriate and followed in order to prevent rescheduling and unnecessary delays in the continuum of care.

Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD)

The Densitometry Program, at RVH offers the services of Densitometrist’s certified with the ISCD (International Society of Clinical Densitometry) and the program is also accredited by the CAR (Canadian Association of Radiologists).

BMD’s are also scheduled appointments requiring a requisition, but no preparation. These examinations often require an X-Ray of the lower back for proper interpretation and these can be completed at the same time as the scheduled appointment

The staff of Diagnostic Imaging strives to meet the needs and satisfaction of our clients. Every effort is made to accommodate patients requiring multiple examinations by booking those examinations on the same day whenever possible.

We try not to keep patients waiting, however due to multiple different circumstances such as Emergent procedures, this is sometimes unavoidable. We ask for your patience during these delays.