Asking Your Doctor for Medical Imaging

How to Ask Your Doctor for Medical Imaging

You Have a Choice in Your Imaging Care

When you're facing unexplained pain or persistent symptoms, it is natural to start looking for answers. Not every answer is easily found, and sometimes you need to look deeper. Learning about medical imaging can help you have better conversations with your doctor and make sure you’re getting the answers you need for the care that’s right for you.

What Medical Imaging Does for You

• Save Money: Knowing your options can help you unnecessary tests, reduce follow-up visits, and choose the best path to answers.

• Find Real Answers: Imaging can help identify the true source of your pain rather than manage symptoms.

• Get Better Care: When you know what is happening inside your body, you and your doctor can make confident care decisions together.

Advocating for Your Health

You are the most important member of your care team. No one knows your body like you do, and your voice matters in every conversation about your health. When speaking up to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss options, you are partnering with your doctor to guide your care in the right direction.

Screening and diagnostic imaging offers a way to get the answers you need, and you have the right to ask about these options to take an active role in your health.

Preparing to Talk to Your Doctor About Medical Imaging

Before your next appointment with your doctor, ensure you organize your thoughts so you can walk into your doctor’s office with confidence. Take a few minutes to check in with yourself by following these tips:

Keep a personal record of your medical history — whether written down or saved on your phone. Pay attention to your symptoms, including when they started and how they’ve changed over time. Make a note of the treatments or medications you’ve already tried and how well they worked. Think through any questions you want to ask, especially whether medical imaging might help explain what you’re experiencing. During your visit, write down key details and instructions so you can remember what to do next and stay on track with your care.

Creating a personal record of your medical history can be a valuable part of your care. Include both your own health background and any relevant family history. Be sure to note any past surgeries, injuries, medications you are taking or have taken, and any known allergies. Having this information ready helps your doctor make better informed decisions and ensures you receive care that truly fits your needs.

Whether you are managing a diagnosed condition or seeking care for pain or discomfort that is affecting your daily life, it helps to take note of your concerns in advance. Knowing how long your symptoms have been present, what treatments you’ve already tried, and how your symptoms are limiting your normal activities can lead to a more productive conversation with your doctor. This information supports a thoughtful discussion about whether imaging could help identify the cause. Be open about your goal—to better understand what’s happening so you can recover more effectively and return to your routine with as few symptoms as possible.

Your health deserves answers that are clear and precise. With advanced imaging, you can feel confident knowing you are choosing technology that provides the most accurate information to guide your doctor in creating a care plan tailored to you. When you take the next step with us, you are choosing imaging that offers significantly lower costs than hospital imaging centers, scans with exceptional detail, and faster technology designed to help you get answers quickly and return to doing what you love.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor During Your Appointment

Arriving at your next doctor’s visit with a clear plan and thoughtful questions can make a big difference in your care. Ask your doctor questions that can guide both of you toward the best imaging option for your specific needs.

How can I determine if diagnostic imaging can provide me with the answers?

Before your doctor providers an imaging referral, it’s important to express your need for clear answers and understand how a scan could impact your care plan. The more specific you are about your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, and what you’ve already tried, the easier it is for your doctor to decide if imaging is the next best step. Here are questions and examples to help you start the conversation:

• Could imaging provide us with clear answers to what is causing my pain or symptoms?
• What can we learn from the results of an imaging scan?
• Example question: “I’ve changed my routine at the gym, started stretching more often, and have taken over-the-counter pain relievers, but I can’t seem to shake my back pain. Would imaging, like an MRI, help us see if there is something like a herniated disc?”

How do I figure out what is the right imaging scan?

Each imaging scan is designed to visualize areas of the body in different ways. It is important to find the best option for your specific needs.

• If imaging is the next step, do I need an X-ray, CT, MRI, or Ultrasound? Why?
• What are the pros and cons of this specific scan?
• Will this scan help determine the cause of my symptoms?
• If it doesn’t yield the results we need, what follow-up imaging would we try, if any?

How do I know what the next steps would be after my imaging scan?

Understanding what comes next after your scan helps you stay confident in leading the conversation about your care.

• How soon after my scan can we schedule a follow-up to discuss the findings?
• Will you personally review my results with me?
• What happens if the scan finds something abnormal?

Types of Medical Imaging Scans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Utilizes a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to generate intricate images of your body’s organs and tissues.

3T & 1.5T Wide-Bore MRIs Available

MRI Services

Computed Tomography (CT)

Combines a sequence of X-ray images captured from various angles around your body and uses computer processing to depict bones and soft tissues.

128-Slice & 64-Slice CTs Available

CT Services

Screening & Diagnostic Mammography

Uses X-ray imaging to provide details about breast tissue for diagnosing tumors, cysts, calcifications, and breast cancer.

Mammogram Services

Ultrasound

Uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or video to help visualize superficial structures, internal organs, and blood vessels.

Ultrasound Services

Nuclear Medicine

Combines PET or SPECT imaging with radiotracers to assess the structure, function, and metabolism of a particular organ or tissue.

Nuclear Medicine Services

PET/CT

Combines PET and CT imaging to provide detailed information about organ and tissue function.

PET/CT Services

Bone Density (DEXA)

Uses X-ray imaging to measure body composition, such as muscle mass and body fat, and provide information about bone mineral density and fractures.

Bone Density (DEXA) Services

Digital X-Ray

Provides information for diagnosing bone issues, including fractures, injuries, arthritis, and more.

X-Ray Services

Where You Go Matters

Choose South Jersey's Leader in Diagnostic Imaging

South Jersey Radiology Associates (SJRA) has set the standard for quality medical imaging across the region since 1938.

• Advanced Technology: We use state-of-the-art imaging equipment to ensure accurate results.

• Board-Certified Experts: Our team of radiologists are board-certified and subspecialize in various areas of the body for deeper insight into your health.

• Flexible Appointments: Online scheduling, extended hours, and convenient locations allow imaging to fit seamlessly into your schedule.

• Patient Focused Care: Our technologists and staff are committed to providing a comfortable, compassionate experience