FAQ
IDENTIFICATION
When you attend our office for an appointment, you need to bring the requisition you received from your doctor and present it to the front desk. At the request of Alberta Health Care, you are required to present your Alberta Health Care Card along with a piece of photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.
CANCELLATIONS
Please ensure that you cancel or reschedule at least 2 hours before your appointment start time. Having at least 2 hours notice that you will not be attending allows our office to contact another patient to attend in your place. This helps us to minimize wait lists.
CHILD CARE
We recognize that from time to time patients may be unable to arrange childcare when you come for your appointments. For those exceptional situations, we are pleased to report that you can now book your ultrasound in a specific room where children and other family members are allowed. Please remember that these services must be confirmed at the time of booking, and as there are limited numbers of these spots available, appointment times may be less flexible. Call us for more information.
WHEN TO ARRIVE
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow us to obtain all pertinent information for your examination.
Body Composition
Bone Densitometry
- Diagnosing osteoporosis
- Determining fracture risk
- Measuring the effects of treatment (It is best to perform this examination at the same facility every time to allow for more accurate comparison from one exam to the next.)
Echocardiography
Breast Imaging
- What is a mammogram?
- What are mammograms used for?
- What you can expect
- Who should have a screening mammogram?
- What is tomosynthesis?
- What is whole breast ultrasound?
- Screening Mammogram Mammograms can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. This type of mammogram is called a screening mammogram. Screening mammograms usually involve two X-ray pictures, or images, of each breast. The X-ray images make it possible to detect tumours that cannot be felt. Screening mammograms can also find microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium) that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer.
- Diagnostic Mammogram Mammograms can also be used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of the disease has been found. This type of mammogram is called a diagnostic mammogram. Besides a lump, signs of breast cancer can include breast pain, thickening of the skin of the breast, nipple discharge or a change in breast shape or size. These changes can also be caused by benign conditions. A diagnostic mammogram can also be used to evaluate changes found during a screening mammogram, or to view breast tissue when it is difficult to obtain a screening mammogram because of special circumstances, such as the presence of breast implants.
- For women
- For women 40-49 years old: screening mammogram every year.
- For women 50-74 years old: screening mammogram every 2 years.
- For women 75 years or older: screening mammogram every 2-3 years if desired.
Pain Clinic
- What is image-guided pain management?
- Who can benefit from pain therapy?
- How do I arrange to have the procedure?
- What can I expect during the procedure?
- How long will it take before I can expect results?
- Where are the procedures performed?
- How much do these procedures cost?
Ultrasound
Exam-Specific Instructions
- Abdomen Ultrasound Only
- Abdomen and Pelvis Ultrasound
- Pelvis Ultrasound Only
- Obstetrical Ultrasound (Pregnancy)
- Arterial Doppler & Renal Arterial Doppler
- Other Ultrasounds
- Approximately 45 minutes
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your exam.
- No chewing gum is permitted (gum generates saliva with small particles of air that, when swallowed, make organs harder to see).
- Brushing teeth is permissible.
- For infants, withhold last feeding prior to appointment time.
- Medication can be taken at its usual time with a small amount of water.
- Only patients will be allowed in the exam room unless caregivers are needed.
- Approximately 60 minutes
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your exam. 90 minutes before your appointment, empty your bladder and then finish drinking four 8 oz. glasses of water (1 litre total).
- DO NOT VOID within 90 minutes of your appointment.
- DO NOT SUBSTITUTE WITH ANY OTHER LIQUID.
- Children (12 and under) are only required to drink 2 glasses of water, 8 oz. each (500 mL total).
- Only patients will be allowed in the exam room unless caregivers are needed.
- Approximately 30 minutes
- 90 minutes before your appointment, empty your bladder, then finish drinking four 8 oz. glasses of water (1 litre total).
- DO NOT VOID within 90 minutes of your appointment.
- DO NOT SUBSTITUTE WITH ANY OTHER LIQUID.
- Children (12 and under) are only required to drink 2 glasses of water, 8 oz. each (500 mL total).
- Only patients will be allowed in the exam room unless caregivers are needed.
- Approximately 45 minutes
- 90 minutes prior to your appointment, empty your bladder, then drink water as specified below. The amount of water you need to drink depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy: Up to 25 weeks – 3 glasses of water, 8 oz. each (750 mL total) Over 25 weeks – 1 glass of water, 8 oz. (250 mL total)
- DO NOT VOID within 90 minutes of your appointment.
- DO NOT SUBSTITUTE WITH ANY OTHER LIQUID.
- Fathers without children present are welcome to view the obstetrical ultrasound while it is performed. Fathers with children present will be asked to remain in the waiting room until the end of the exam when they will be brought in to view the baby.
- USB sticks with ultrasound images of your baby are available for purchase following your exam.
- Upper extremities (No preparation)
- Lower extremities (Nothing to eat or drink after midnight)
- Renal arteries (Nothing to eat after midnight, drink two glasses of water two hours before your appointment, a full bladder is not required)
Vein Clinic
- Where is Chinook Vascular located?
- What does Chinook Vascular do?
- What is venous insufficiency?
- What you can expect
- BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- Useful documents
It is estimated that 25% of women and 15% of men suffer from venous insufficiency. This can result in:
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Chinook Vascular currently offers the following therapeutic options for venous insufficiency:
- Endovenous laser ablation
- Foam echosclerotherapy
- Liquid sclerotherapy
- Compression stockings
Endovenous laser ablation is a “state of the art” minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgical stripping of veins. If this procedure is determined to be an appropriate treatment for you, you can rest assured knowing that it is quick and effective, and can treat both the pain and appearance of varicose veins. Most patients are able to return to normal activities within a week.
Chinook Vascular is an accredited, non-hospital surgical facility.
Contact your family physician for a referral.