Leading the future of Medical Imaging
Excellence in care and experience is at the heart of everything we do. Our daily commitment to all patients and clinicians is to provide the highest quality service and be responsive to your medical imaging needs.
Radiology at Northern Health
Northern Imaging Victoria provides a comprehensive range of radiographic examinations tailored to patients of all ages across a broad range of medical specialities.
Radiation is a form of energy that can come from natural or artificial sources. X-rays (or X-radiation) are a type of radiation. Other types of radiation include microwaves, ultraviolet (UV) or visible light. X-rays have higher energy compared to these other types of radiation which allows it to travel through various organs in the body. Radiographers are healthcare professionals trained in the safe and effective use of X-rays to obtain images of your body, known as radiographs.
Examples of X-ray tests include plain X-rays of various body regions, CT scans, mammograms, fluoroscopy and angiography.
Radiation is found naturally in our living environment and we are exposed to it daily. Radiation can be naturally occurring and has many sources including the bricks in your home, fruits you eat, and from the atmosphere when you travel on a plane. The amount of X-rays you receive depends on the exam you are referred for. This is usually a small and safe amount of radiation where the benefits of the test will outweigh any potential risks to you.
If you have any concerns about radiation safety and if you might be pregnant, please let our staff and your treating doctor know.
There is no special preparation required for an X-ray examination such as an X-ray of your chest, arm or leg. However, preparation for radiology exams can vary significantly and you will be given advice by our imaging team if this is the case.
If there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, you must let your doctor and our staff know before your test.
Please contact the Imaging team on (03) 8405 9600 for further information.
Each time you attend a Medical Imaging appointment, please bring the following items with you:
- Medicare card
- Health Care Card (if you have one)
- Private Health Insurance card (if you want to use it)
- List of medications you currently take (including those without a prescription)
- X-ray films, scans or other relevant test results
- Concession Card (if applicable)
- Adverse Drug Reaction Card (if you have one)
Key points
- X-rays are a safe and non-invasive way of taking images of different parts of the body to diagnose certain medical conditions.
- Radiographers are healthcare professionals who are trained in the safe use of radiation to perform different exams, including plain X-rays or CT scans.
- A radiologist, who is a specialist medical doctor trained in interpreting X-rays, will examine your images and report their findings to your doctor.
- You must let us know if there is a chance you might be pregnant or breastfeeding.
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