Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • We are open for x-ray, ultrasound, CT, BMD, Interventional Radiology 7am – 5pm weekdays.

    Our MRI hours are 7am - 7pm weekdays (and occasionally weekend days).

  • Payment for scans varies dependent on each referral and each circumstance for referral. Your referrer often will ask if you have private health insurance prior to referring you. We are acc and southern cross accredited providers - this means that we bill acc or southern cross directly, however acc surcharges do apply to ultrasound scans and payment on the day of examination is required.

    If you have an alternate health insurance provider and do not have prior approval for your imaging, we ask that you pay on the day and initiate reimbursement of cost via your insurance provider.

    Surcharges for pregnancy scans are paid by individuals on the day of the examination.

    Any x-ray that is not acc will incur a cost unless you are insured with southern cross. At the time of your referral your GP or specialist should discuss this with you. 

    If you would like to know the approximate amount you would need to pay please call our helpful staff for more information.

    We also undertake a contract for Taranaki District Health Board, so if you have been referred to the public or hospital system but as a part of the contracted work of TDHB your imaging is completed here, then no payment is required.

  • If ACC do decline the cost of your examination you will be liable for these costs. This is clearly outlined on the patient questionnaire that you are provided upon your arrival to Absolute Radiology.

  • Just give our friendly team a call, we can supply you with a written quote and your referral to send to your health insurance provider. You can then call us back when you have approval to book at time and date that suits.

  • Please advise your referrer if you are having an mri or ct scan and are claustrophobic - this should be noted on the referral to us.  This may mean that you benefit from sedation to complete this examination. We can arrange a time for you to come in and see the scanners to consider if you can manage.  If you consider that you do need sedation then this needs to be arranged with your GP directly.  We do need to know advance if you require sedation to complete scan.

  • As far as x-ray radiation risk is concerned this is measured as an accumulative dose throughout your lifetime.  Medical practitioners who refer you for imaging consider as part of their rationale for the examination the risk of lifetime exposure vs the diagnostic benefit of the image.

    Our CT scan is extremely low dose that further lessens the accumulative dose over your lifetime.

  • Yes you will need to have a referral for an x-ray, ct scan, mri or ultrasound scan from a registered medical practitioner.

    Bone density scans can be self referred if you are >45 years of age.  If you do not meet this criteria then you will need to be referred for this scan.

    Body composition scans can be self referred.

  • We are more than happy to provide your imaging and reports, but we have a 10 working day turn around time for this.

    This ensures your referrer has received your report and had the opportunity to contact you to discuss it. You will need to fill out a form and provide suitable ID. If you require your images, there is a small fee to cover the cost of the USB.

  • Yes you can. We work with PACSBridge that is an easy platform for the images of your pregnancy ultrasound to be sent to your mobile phone or an email address for you to access. The cost of accessing the PACSBridge service is an additional cost of $12 and is payable on the day of your scan.

  • Yes you can choose where you have your radiology imaging completed. You can request that you are referred to us for ct, mri, x-ray, ultrasound and bone density or body composition scanning. 

    It is one of the health and disability patient rights that  you can make an informed choice or decision - this includes imaging studies.

    We accept all referral sources, forms from alternate providers, hard-copy referrals, online referrals.

  • We can provide a quote for your scan in advance. Some scanning however may be more or less than the quoted costs due to whether additional scans or contrast is required.  Often this is not known until initial scanning has taken place to evaluate your anatomy and whether additional scans are necessary to gain the required information requested on your referral.

  • Yes we definitely do pregnancy scans. 

  • Yes we do nuchal scanning along with other pregnancy scans.

  • Yes, we have a walk in X-ray, CT & Bone Density service and encourage patients (especially from out of town) to call in and check with us.  We do need your referral form. 

    We do our best to accommodate same day appointments for your examination – although currently MRI is by appointment.

  • Once you have completed the patient questionnaire and we have you set up on the scanner this only takes approx 5 minutes. It would be safe to allow approx 15 -20 minutes for entire scan and paperwork completion.

  • It is important you understand why your referrer has sent you for imaging. If you are unsure, we do encourage you to contact your Referrer and discuss it with them. It is your right as a patient to ask and understand why.

  • Please let us know as soon as possible so we can provide you with information and ensure your allowed appointment time is suitable.

    There also may be differences in the way your GP may advise you to take your sedation medication and the process that we ask you to follow. This is because we need you to complete patient safety questionnaires and consent forms on the day of your scan or procedure, that require you to be of clear mind to complete. This is a legal requirement to be of clear mind when consenting for procedures.

    If you or your GP have any questions regarding this, please don’t hesitate to call us directly.

    We are happy to discuss our processes regarding sedation.

  • CT scans - is an agent that highlights anatomy to improve diagnostic accuracy between various pathologies. 

    There is no ‘hard and fast’ rule regarding who requires contrast, but consideration of whether contrast is required to enhance your imaging takes place when screening the information that is supplied on your referral or request form. 

    You can read more about contrast ct scans from ‘patient information’ heading on our home page.   We ask you a range of questions so we know that contrast is safe to give you and your consent to use contrast for your examination.

    MRI - gadolinium contrast is used to create clearer imaging in respect to tissues, inflammation, tumours, vessels and some blood supply to organs.  Gadolinium improves the diagnostic accuracy of the images obtained by making tissues react differently within the mri scanner.  You will not notice this subtle difference. 

  • Whenever you are referred for a ct scan you should make the referrer aware that you have a contrast allergy and the details of your reaction.

    Your referral is then discussed with either the referring physician or our radiologist to establish the best course forward for you to gain the information required.  We will not give you contrast if  you have had a previously severe reaction such as anaphyllaxis, however if your reaction has been mild in nature, ie skin rash then you may potentially benefit from pre-medications to allow contrast administration.

    Please let us know in advance if you have an allergy to contrast, so we have time to discuss which is the next best option for your imaging.

  • The medical practitioner that referred you for your scan and/or your GP are the usual recipients for your results.   If you want any other additional medical practitioner added please advise us on arrival on the day of your imaging.

    Alternatively if you do not want results to be sent you will also need to advise us in advance.

  • We will do our best to accommodate same day scanning following a specialist consultation. This is great if you are from out of town!

  • Yes we have off street parking available to you at our premise at 56 Molesworth Street. The entrance to our premises is VIA Molesworth Street.

  • We have a single level premise and can accommodate those who are less mobile or have special mobility requirements.

    If you require a hoist to have your imaging completed, you will need to bring this with you on the day and have advised us in advance that you require a hoist transfer so we can allow extra time and staff for your exam.

    Our x-ray bed does move down, so we can alter the height of the bed for your for chair to bed transfers.

  • Yes – we perform a range of cardiac studies including – CT Coronary Angios, CT Calcium Scoring, Echocardiograms, MRI Cardiac studies.

Still have questions?

Don’t hesitate to call or email us.