*Sponsored content by Premier Imaging Center
By Tommi O. Peters
For The Tribune
Located just off the campus of St. Vincent’s East, Premier Imaging offers unparalleled convenience and care.
Of primary benefit to patients are the onsite radiologists, who read scans immediately and submit reports to physicians within 24 hours. If a suspicious or urgent need is discovered, physicians are contacted as soon as possible.
Brian Zimmerman, RT (CT)(R) has been a CT Technologist with Premier for ten years and echoed this value of having a doctor on site.
“The personal relationships that the technologists have with the radiologists is great for the patients. If we notice something questionable in a scan, we can bring it to the doctor’s attention right away.”
Rebecca Alexander is Marketing Director for the facility and shared a recent example.
“A patient complaining of neck and back pain was sent here at 3:30 p.m. on a Friday by her doctor. Because the radiologist is onsite, we were able to quickly have her results read and identify that her neck was actually broken.
We called the ambulance who removed her from the table and transported her straight to the hospital.
If her scans hadn’t been read until after the weekend, she could have further injured herself and possibly experienced serious permanent damage,” said Alexander.
Offering the area’s only open MRI, Premier takes special care with patients that are battling with claustrophobia or anxiety about the MRI procedure itself.
“Sometimes patients need multiple attempts before they feel comfortable enough to complete the test. We may try it a couple of times in the same day or they might need to wait until they can come back the next day with a family member to sit with them during the process,” explained Technician Ronda Coxe, RT (MRI)(R).
Alexander added, “For people that have anxiety, it can be overwhelming to be placed inside of a tunnel. We work with patients so that they’re able to complete the test. Because the reality is that this is the most relaxed environment they’ll find for an MRI. If they can’t complete the test here, they can’t complete it anywhere.”
Patient comfort and care actually begin in the parking lot, which provides simple access to the navigation-friendly building. The lobby is intentionally void of live plants and fragrances that could aggravate allergies or cause discomfort to those having just left chemotherapy treatment. Partitioned registration desks are positioned outside of the main lobby for increased privacy, as well.
While other imaging facilities may pass a patient from one employee to the next, Premier technologists are with their patients from the start of a visit to the end. They greet patients in the lobby, escort them to the testing room, answer any questions, ensure that the patient is comfortable, perform the test, then walk the patient back out to the lobby.
With six of the eight current employees have been with the center for over 15 years, there is a team cohesion that provides a friendly atmosphere for patients.
“Through the years, we’ve maintained the same quality staff. You’ll see the same technologist and you’ll recognize the staff. So many of our patients are repeat patients, such as those undergoing treatment for cancer. The familiar faces of the technologists really provide comfort during a difficult time,” noted Alexander.
With such close proximity to St. Vincent’s East, approximately 40% of Premier’s appointments are same-day scheduling. This can be of huge benefit to those that had to travel from out of town, take off work, or need the approval to return to work.
Premier offers imaging services in MRI, CT, Diagnostic Radiology and Ultrasound. All major insurances are accepted. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.premierimagingcenter.com or call (205) 838-1971.