Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD)

A radiologist will read the exam and send it to the ordering doctor within 7 days. Your doctor may contact you, or you may need to follow up with them.

Yes, you will need a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.

A bone scan is a nuclear medicine test and takes roughly 3 hours to complete. This is a simple x-ray that takes about 10 minutes.

CT Scans (Private)

Both CT scans and MRI are utilized in medical imaging. CT is better than MRI in some areas, while MRI performs better in others. Your doctor will order the exam that is best for your health concern.

You may feel a warm sensation throughout your body or a metallic taste in your mouth when the contrast is given. This is very common and does not last long.

Allergic reactions to CT contrast are uncommon but can happen. People who are allergic to contrast may experience typical allergic symptoms such as itching, hives and sneezing. Very rarely contrast can trigger a life-threatening reaction. You will be asked questions related to allergies at time of booking and prior to your scan. Please let us know if you have had a previous allergy to any type of contrast.

CT scans are very quick, and most people can complete the scan. If you have any concerns, please ask to speak to a technologist. CAMIS does not provide medication for this purpose.

The weight limit is 500 pounds (227kg)

Yes, you must have a referral from a doctor for your CT scan.

Diagnostic Ultrasound

Because we don’t always have a radiologist that specializes in MSK Ultrasound at our Sylvan Lake location.

Wait times vary but usually the injection is booked within 2 to 3 weeks of the ultrasound.

Not all ultrasounds lead to injections and we want to limit cancellations if the injection is not needed.

All MSK Ultrasound exams need to be reviewed and protocoled by an MSK specialist to ensure proper booking.

Some ultrasound exams are only performed, or have been recommended to be performed, with a radiologist on site.

No. CAMIS follows the Canada Health Act and 99% of ultrasound exams are insured services and can not be paid for privately.

Echocardiography

Yes, we do prefer that you lay on your left side. If you are unable to, we are able to work around that.

General Questions

We do have stairs at our main Red Deer location. We are fully accessible and have an elevator as well as wheelchair ramp access outside.

At our main Red Deer location we have a main floor and a downstairs level. For X-Ray, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, CT and Pain Management, please visit our downstairs lobby and speak with a receptionist. For all other medical procedures, staff in our main lobby will be able to assist you.

Some of our locations are not equipped for specialized testing or procedures. Please check our location pages to see what services each location offers.

  • Red Deer Main
  • Red Deer Notre Dame
  • Sylvan Lake
  • Olds
  • Stettler
  • Rocky Mountain House
  • Red Deer QE2

We have several locations around Central Alberta:

Red Deer Main: 4312 54 Ave, Red Deer

Red Deer Notre Dame: Bay 1117 2827 30th Ave, Red Deer

Sylvan Lake: 33 Beju Ind. Drive #115, Sylvan Lake

Olds: 240-6700 46 St, Olds

Stettler: 4710 50 St, Stettler

Red Deer QE2: 110 – 6845 66 Street Red Deer

Rocky Mountain House: 5127 49 Street Rocky Mountain House, AB

 

We don’t have the specialized staff or equipment required for these procedures outside of our main office, located in Red Deer.

Our staff see many faces every day, and therefore may not recognize you upon your visit. Your health care card is important to confirm your identity.

You can contact our office to get copies of reports and images. Please note that there is an administrative fee.

This can take a few days depending on the exam and if it’s required to be protocolled.

Once your exam/procedure is complete, we will send all information to your referring physician. They are responsible for any follow up or next steps.

Mammography

We do not currently offer screening breast ultrasound as an alternative to mammography because we do not currently have the resources.

We don’t have the specialized staff or equipment required for these procedures outside of our main office.

If you are between the age 50 of 75, and have no symptoms or history of breast cancer, then you do not need a doctors referral. You do however need to provide a doctor’s name at time of booking.

MRI

Once your exam/procedure is complete, we will send all information to your referring physician. They are responsible for any follow up or next steps.

Yes there can be side effects from injections of any kind. They range from mild to life-threatening. If you have concerns about an injection, please speak to your physician or to one of our technologists prior to your exam.

If you are severely claustrophobic then you will need to speak to your physician about having some medication to calm you prior to the exam. Our MRI staff are extremely good with patients and most people manage the MRI exam without medication.

Nuclear Medicine

The short term side effects are that you may get a headache or an upset stomach.

Each nuclear medicine service differs in process. We will send results to your doctor and they will typically contact you within 3-4 days.

Bone Scan: You will receive an injection of a radioactive tracer and be asked to return anywhere from 2½ to 4 hours after the injection. When you return, imaging takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Parathyroid Scan: You will receive an injection of a radioactive tracer. The first set of images are taken shortly after the injection. The second set of images are taken approximately 2 hours after the injection. Each set of images can take up to 1¼ hours. Total time to complete the exam is about 3 hours.

HIDA Scan: You will receive an injection of radioactive tracer and images will be taken over a period of time. This exam usually takes 1½ to 2 hours to complete, but on occasion can take up to 4 hours.

MUGA Scan: You will receive 2 injections, with a 20-30 minute waiting period between them. Imaging begins after the second injection and usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Prenatal Ultrasound

No. CAMIS follows the Canada Health Act and 99% of ultrasound exams are insured services and can not be paid for privately.

We only allow support people in the exam room for obstetrical ultrasound and on a case by case basis for other exams depending on emotional or physical needs.This policy can change during the Pandemic.

Some ultrasound exams are only performed, or have been recommended to be performed, with a radiologist on site.

Typically at 20 weeks is when we can tell the gender of your baby. However, it depends on the position of the baby during the ultrasound exam. We will only tell you if you want to know and if we are able to visualize clearly.

In order for us to get the images that your doctor has requested, we need you to have a full bladder. This requires you to drink 32 ounces of water and allows us to better visualize the structures in your pelvis.

Yes. The technologist will do their best to get some take-home pictures of your baby.

Private MRI

At CAMIS, we do offer private MRI services, starting at $725. It typically takes 1-2 days to book the appointment, and you do still require a requisition form from a physician. Following your MRI, you will receive a copy of all your images.

We perform most MRI examinations, (including MR arthrography and cardiac), with the exception of temporomandibular joints, perfusion studies and breast.

Our table weight limit is 550lbs, which is 200lbs greater than most MRI systems.

We use a high field, open bore magnet. High field means it has a magnetic field strength of 1.5 Tesla (higher field strength means better image quality). Open bore means the opening in the magnet is larger, 10 cm larger, than traditional MRI systems, translating into more room and comfort in the magnet.

Yes. CAMIS does offer a private pay option for MRI services. Please call 403-755-1060 for more information.

Yes. Our system is designed to alleviate feelings of claustrophobia. The magnet is only 3 ½ feet deep resulting in 60% of examinations being performed with your head outside the magnet, reducing feelings of claustrophobia.

PRP

You can contact our office to get copies of reports and images. Please note that there is an administrative fee.

This can take a few weeks depending on the exam and if it’s required to be protocolled.

We only inject one area at a time, and wait 7 days between injections, to limit adverse reactions and limit to every three months to control the amount of steroids you receive in a year.

X-Ray

After an x-ray, we send the photos and related information to your physician. Your physician will call you to explain the results of the x-rays. We are unable to show you the x-ray photos or provide you with interpretations on the spot.

Parents can come into the room, if emotional support is needed, up to the point that photos are taken. During the x-ray photos, parents will be asked to wait outside.

While x-ray photos are taken, children are unable to be in the room. Unfortunately, we are not able to watch them so if they accompany you to the appointment, we request that they are able to be alone for a short period of time and entertained in some way during the photos.

If you are a patient with limited mobility – please contact us so we can prepare for your visit and provide the right recommendations. Our location is ramp-accessible and we will do our best to provide any additional aid as needed.

No, there is no need to schedule an appointment. Our x-ray department operates as a walk-in and is open from Monday – Friday with varying hours based on the location you’re visiting.

Red Deer Main Office Hours: 7:15 am. – 6:00 pm

Notre Dame Plaza Office Hours: 7:15 am. – 4:00 pm

An x-ray of the eyes is required if you are having an MRI and have had an injury to your eyes that required medical treatment.

Our Sylvan Lake location does not currently have an x-ray machine.

You don’t need an appointment for an x-ray. However, you do require a physician’s requisition.

It is imperative that you alert your doctor or technician if there is a possibility of pregnancy.