X-Ray

Yes, you will need a requisition/referral from your Doctor for all X-Ray exams.

No. X-Ray is offered on a walk-in basis. No appointment is necessary however you must have a referral from your Doctor. Please arrive 30 minutes before the advertised closing time to be sure you will be seen and please bring your BC Services Card with you.

You should not have an X-Ray while pregnant unless approved by your Doctor. If your Doctor approves an X-Ray during your pregnancy this will be indicated on your requisition and lead shielding can be applied to your abdominal region.

Our Technologists are registered and are specially trained to perform your exam, but only Radiologists are qualified to interpret your results. For this reason, our Technologists cannot discuss what they see with you.

Your results are reviewed first by the Radiologist and the report is usually faxed to your Doctor by the end of the day. Urgent results will be phoned or faxed to your Doctor as soon as possible.

Wearing clothing made from lighter and thinner materials, such as plain t-shirts, leggings, etc. and no jewelry close to the part of your body having the X-Ray will make your visit faster. Heavier clothing such as denim or bejeweled shirts may need to be removed and replaced with a medical gown for some examinations.

We aim to accommodate all patients, but we do not always have a female Technologist scheduled. Please call ahead to enquire if a female Technologist would be available at the time you plan to visit.

General X-Rays can range from a few minutes to 45 minutes depending on the type of exam needed.

If you are concerned about your mobility affecting your examination please call ahead, some examinations can be adapted to accommodate your mobility aide, and our equipment has handles for standing examinations to assist you. However for those patients which need greater assistance we may recommend arranging to have your X-Ray done at a Hospital’s Radiology Department as they have access to hoists, slides and other equipment needed to ensure your safety during transfers to the bed.

We will always try to accommodate children over the age of 2, however if your child is normally uncooperative or fidgety during medical examinations it may be best to visit the Radiology Department at BC Women & Children’s Hospital, their X-Ray rooms and equipment are designed specifically for children. Due to the Radiation involved in X-Rays, if our Technologist feels they will not be able to get the pictures necessary to give you an accurate result we may ask you to go to BC Women & Children’s Hospital without attempting any X-Rays.

Greig Associates is very multicultural, and our staff have learned small phrases in many languages to assist those that are not as confident in their English abilities as best as we can, you can help your relative by going over the points below;

• Ensure your relative brings their BC Services Card and requisition paper, if their Doctor has faxed the paper to us, please call ahead to ensure we have it.
• Please make sure your relative understands they will need to present their BC Services Card to both the Administrative staff at check in, and to the Technologist to confirm identity before having their X-Ray.
• Ensure your relative knows what body part is having an X-Ray and that they may need to remove their clothing and wear a medical gown.
• X-Rays of the torso (below the neck and above the hips) are often done with the patient holding in a big breath, this often gets lost in translation, if your relative is having an X-Ray of these body parts, get them to practice taking a big breath in, then holding it for 5 seconds.

The amount of radiation received during an X-Ray depends on the body part, number of pictures your Doctor asks for, and even your own body. Generally however, radiation exposure from an X-Ray is low, and the benefits of these tests far outweigh the risks. Our Technologists and our equipment aim to get the best pictures with an amount of radiation that is as low as reasonably achievable. If you have any concerns about the amount of radiation or number of X-Rays you are having, please talk to your Doctor. You can read more about the safety of radiation at https://www.iaea.org/resources/rpop/patients-and-public/x-rays