What types of medical imaging examinations are available at Albany Advanced Imaging?

We offer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, nuclear medicine examinations, ultrasound studies, bone density measurement (DEXA), and plain film X-ray examinations.

Where are you located?

Albany Advanced Imaging is centrally located in the Capital Region, just north of Interstate 90 off Everett Road. Our office address is 3 Atrium Drive, and you may enter through the A entrance at the eastern end of the building.

How are appointments scheduled?

We offer convenient scheduling by telephone or FAX. Many times, your examination can be performed on the same day that we receive a request from your doctor. If our schedule is completely filled, our usual waiting time is no more that two or three days.

What are your hours?

Our normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 AM until 5 PM. Appointments for certain types of MRI examinations are available in the evenings and weekends.

The office is closed for major holidays.

May I ask my doctor to send me to Albany Advanced Imaging?

Yes. We are happy to work with and accept referrals from any licensed health care provider (physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractor, physician's assistant, nurse practicioner, oral surgeon, podiatrist). Most practicioners are quite receptive to their patients' requests and preferences regarding their own health care. We are proud of the high level of patient and referring doctor satisfaction found in our frequent follow-up surveys.

How much will my examination cost?

Fees for examinations performed at Albany Advanced Imaging vary according to the complexity of the study, the resources needed to perform the examination, and the time and work required to interpret the images. You or your insurance company will be charged a single global fee for each examination, covering both the facility charge and the professional cost of interpretation. Please refer to the Fees and Payment Policies and Insurance Participation areas of our Website for further details.

Our staff will be happy to discuss any questions that you may have regarding fees or insurance matters.

How soon will my doctor know the results of my imaging test?

Final written interpretations are mailed to your doctor as soon as possible after the completion of your examination. This process usually takes two or three days. However, a copy of the written report may be sent by FAX to your physician if he or she requires it sooner.

Albany Advanced Imaging employs a voice transcription system, whereby your physician may call our office at any time and obtain the radiologist's dictation of your examination. Access to this service is strictly limited by unique I.D. code issued to each referring physician.

I am seeking a second opinion out of the area. May I obtain my medical imaging examination to take with me?

Yes. Please call us in advance so that we have your films ready for you when you arrive to pick them up. We ask that you return any borrowed films to our office as soon as possible. Should you require another set of copies, a reasonable charge will be made.

Are any of the procedures performed at Albany Advanced Imaging painful?

No. For some MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine scans, an intravenous injection of contrast liquid may be required. This injection is similar to having a blood test drawn.

What should I do before my examination?

Perhaps the biggest favor that you can do for yourself is to relax. Medical imaging procedures performed at Albany Advanced Imaging are quick and comfortable.

Please inquire whether your scheduled examination requires insurance company pre-approval or pre-authorization. We require that pre-authorizations be in hand before the examination is performed.

Please consult the Patient Preparation area of our Website to determine if your particular examination requires fasting or any other particular preparation.

If you have had previous imaging studies at another facility that could have bearing on your current condition, it greatly helps us to compare these older images to your new examination at Albany Advanced Imaging. Original films are more valuable to us than written reports alone. It is your responsibility to make previous studies available to us at the time of your appointment, so that we can work effectively on your behalf. We will hold these outside films for you to pick up later, or we can send them back to the original facility if you wish.

We request that you arrive well in advance of your scheduled appointment time in order to complete registration and medical insurance information entry.

Please inform our staff if you have any history of allergies, asthma, previous reaction to X-ray contrast liquid, kidney disease, or significant heart or lung disease. We also need to know if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you think you might be pregnant.

I've heard certain patients can't go into an MRI scanner. How do I know if it's safe for me?

Please consult the MRI Patient Safety area of our Website. In brief, patients with cerebral aneurysm clips, cardiac pacemakers or implanted defibrillators, certain other implanted electronic devices, or foreign metallic objects (e.g., shrapnel, metal eye splinters) cannot safely enter the high magnetic field of the MRI scanner. Also, friends or relatives who wish to accompany patients into the MRI scan room should not have any disqualifying factor. Should you have any question or doubt, please call us well before your scheduled examination time.

I'm claustrophobic. Can I have an MRI examination at Albany Advanced Imaging?

You can. Our comfortable, roomy MRI scanner offers many of the best features of open magnets, combined with the excellent image quality of high magnetic field strength MR units. Our technologists are very experienced with claustrophobic patients, and will offer professional and supportive attention to you during your examination. Please refer to the MRI at a Glance and MRI and Claustrophobia sections of our Website.

Are there any problems with other types of examinations?

Generally no. Certain CT examinations require intravenous contrast injection. If you have a history of previous allergic reaction to intravenous radiographic contrast liquid, asthma, kidney disease, or significant heart or lung disease, please let us know in advance. In this way, there is sufficient time for the radiologists at Albany Advanced Imaging to determine with your doctor the safety and advisability of your planned examination.

There are no disqualifying factors for nuclear medicine, ultrasound examinations, or plain X-ray tests.

May a friend or family member accompany me?

Yes. We welcome patients and their friends or family. Please exercise good judgement in regard to the number of persons who accompany you. We are unable to provide supervision of infants or young children for patients undergoing imaging examinations.