General Radiology

Thanks to its speed and efficiency, it is often the first imaging test prescribed by doctors. No appointment is necessary. During our opening hours, come directly to one of our two centers, at a time that suits you.

All tests offered at both clinics are covered by the Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ—health insurance card), with the exception of MRI and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections. The latter are often covered by private or group insurance plans, or by the SAAQ and CNESST if required by one of these two organizations.

Description

General radiology, also called radiography, is a medical imaging technique that uses low doses of X-rays to examine various part of the body. It is commonly used to diagnose fractures, infections, lung disease and much more.

Why have an X-ray?

X-rays allow us to:

• Monitor the progress of a medical condition or the results of treatment (such as osteoarthritis or kidney stones).
• Detect bone fractures or dislocations after a trauma.
• Diagnose infections or illnesses, such as pneumonia or digestive disorders.
• Assess unexplained pain in specific areas (chest, abdomen, joints).

Preparation for the test

General radiology generally requires no special preparation, but here are a few important points to consider before you come in:

Remove personal items: Before the procedure, you should remove jewelry, eyeglasses, watches and other metal objects from the area being examined.

Report pregnancy: If you are pregnant, or think you may be, inform the team as soon as you arrive so that we can evaluate safe imaging options.

At the time of your appointment, please make sure you have:

• your valid health insurance card
• the original medical prescription signed by the requesting professional

Test procedure

The test is quick and easy:

1. You will be invited to visit our walk-in department, where a technologist will greet you.
2. Depending on the area being examined, you may be lying, sitting or standing while the images are taken.
3. You may need to hold your breath or hold a specific position for a few seconds to obtain a clear image.
4. The test generally takes less than 15 minutes, and the images are then sent for analysis.

Imaging results are available on CD (or another digital device), for an additional fee.

Precautions and contraindications

Although general radiology is a safe and quick test, certain precautions must be taken:

Allergies or special conditions: Although rare in general radiology, if a contrast product is required (e.g. for digestive X-rays), report any known allergies to your doctor.

Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or think you may be, inform your medical team immediately, as X-rays could present a risk to the fetus. An alternative imaging method (such as ultrasound) may be considered.

Wearing metal objects: Jewellery, glasses or clothing containing metal can interfere with the image and should be removed before the examination.

Fees

To view the fees for all the procedures we perform, please consult our fee schedule.

You can also check whether procedure fees are covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).