Professional Radiology proudly offers MRI services to patients in the El Paso area. As an ACR-certified, patient-centered radiology clinic, we always put our patients first. This is why our MRI is designed to offer maximum comfort and quality. Whether you need radiology services for yourself or your patients, look no further than Professional Radiology.
No other radiology clinic goes further than us when it comes to providing the best services and the highest level of comfort for each and every single one of our patients. Send your patients where you can count on diagnostic confidence and patient comfort.
Give us a call today to learn more about our El Paso MRI services!
About Our MRI Machine
Our MRI machine, the Hitachi Echelon Oval, is a wide-open MRI. It is specially designed for patients who feel uncomfortable in confined and dark spaces. In fact, it is the industry’s widest high-field MR system. MRI Diagnostic imaging relies on the natural differences in the magnetic properties of various tissues in the body to generate the images.
Our El Paso MRI Services
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) W/WO (With and without contrast)
In this type of MRI, the patient is given an injectable contrast agent, usually a gadolinium-based material, before the scan. The contrast agent helps enhance the visibility of certain structures or abnormalities in the body, providing more detailed information. MRI with contrast is often used to evaluate blood vessels, detect tumors, assess organ function, or identify areas of inflammation.
- We perform this procedure from 8 AM to 2 PM.
- MRI exams for Abd/Pelvis require 4 hours of fasting prior to the exam. If your PCP requests an exam that requires contrast, please hydrate 24 hours before the exam continually.
- If your Primary Care Physician (PCP) requests an MRI with and without contrast and you are allergic to any type of contrast, please let us know.
- If your PCP requests an exam that requires contrast, please hydrate 24 hours prior to the exam continually.
- MRI exams with contrast require 4 hours of fasting before the exam.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) WO (Without contrast)
This type of MRI does not involve the use of any injectable contrast agent. MRI without contrast is generally the first-line imaging technique used to evaluate many conditions, such as injuries, degenerative changes, or abnormal growths. We perform this procedure at 7:30 AM to 7:50 AM and 2 PM to 9 PM.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) W/WO (With and without contrast), and without contrast (WO) WITH Oral Prep
For some MRI scans of the Abd/Pelvis, the patient may be asked to drink a contrast agent orally before the procedure. This oral contrast agent helps highlight the gastrointestinal tract, which can be useful for evaluating conditions like bowel inflammation, tumors, or blockages. The oral contrast is a liquid the patient drinks about an hour before the MRI scan.
- MRI exams for Abd/Pelvis require 4 hours of fasting prior to the exam.
What to Expect from Your Exam
No two patients are alike. As such, the following may not be fully relevant to your particular exam. However, we’ve compiled the most general information that may adhere to most patients. If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to Professional Radiology!
Preparing for Your MRI
- Please let us know if you have a Pacemaker, Diabetic Patch, or any type of metal implant.
- Please make sure to wear comfortable clothes with NO metal.
- If you have a BRAIN MRI, please do not wear any type of makeup or creams.
- Do not wear any type of metal, such as watches, jewelry, piercings, or any other accessories.
- For all MRIs, we will need you to fill out an information form to ensure the safest and most accurate implementation of the diagnostic imaging procedure.
- For MRI Pelvis (Female Patients) and MRI Breast, a second form should be filled out.
How Long Does it Take?
In general, MRI exams take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. The length of the exam varies, however. If you’d like a more accurate representation of your exam time, you can simply ask our team.
When Will My Results Be Ready?
Reports tend to be available within 24 to 72 hours. Once your exam is complete, our radiologist will review the results and we will then send a report directly to your physician.
A Closer Look at Our Wide-Open MRI
Our MRI machine, the Hitachi Echelon Oval, is a wide-open MRI. It is specially designed for patients who feel uncomfortable in confined and dark spaces. In fact, it is the industry’s widest high-field MR system. Our MRI is open wide, meaning it is built around you. It is designed around the shape of the human body, which allows for an optimal patient experience with outstanding comfort, space, and efficiency. Our MRI boasts clinical capabilities that matter, such as diffusion, cartilage assessment, and non-contrast MRA.
Simply put, the Echelon Oval is a comfortable MRI without image compromise. Here are a few of the many benefits provided by the Echelon Oval:
- Ultra-wide patient table
- Easy positioning
- Feet-first imaging for all scans to enhance the patient experience
- Fast scans and motion compensation to minimize patients study time
MRI ACR Accreditation Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about radiation safety?
Before your imaging procedure, be sure to ask your physician the following questions:
- Why is the test needed?
- How will having the test improve my care?
- Are there alternatives that do not use radiation and deliver similar results?
- Is the facility accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR)?
- Are pediatric and adult tests delivered using the appropriate radiation doses?
Why should I have my imaging exam done at an accredited facility?
When you see the gold seals of accreditation prominently displayed in our imaging facility, you can be sure that you are in a facility that meets standards for imaging quality and safety. Look for the ACR Gold Seals of Accreditation.
To achieve the ACR Gold Standard of Accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance, and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications. It’s important for patients to know that every aspect of the ACR accreditation process is overseen by board-certified, expert radiologists and medical physicists in advanced diagnostic imaging.
What does ACR accreditation mean?
Our facility has voluntarily undergone a rigorous review process to ensure that it meets nationally accepted standards of care. Through education and certification, our personnel is well qualified to perform medical imaging, interpret your images, and administer your radiation therapy treatments. Our equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment you will receive, and our facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.
What does the gold seal mean?
When you see the ACR gold seal, you can rest assured that your prescribed imaging test will be done at a facility that has met the highest level of imaging quality and radiation safety. The facility and its personnel have gone through a comprehensive review to earn accreditation status by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the largest and oldest imaging accrediting body in the U.S. and a professional organization of 34,000 physicians.
Contact Professional Radiology for All Your MRI Needs Today!
Achieve optimum comfort by choosing Professional Radiology as your MRI source! Give us a call today to learn more about our imaging services or to schedule an appointment.