Your Visit Made Easier: What to Know Before Your Appointment at Pennsauken Diagnostic Center

Preparing for a diagnostic imaging appointment can feel overwhelming, especially if you are unsure what forms to bring, how early to arrive, or whether your exam requires special preparation. At Pennsauken Diagnostic Center, the Patient Center is designed to give patients access to the information they need before their visit.

From patient forms to appointment preparation details, the Patient Center helps make the process smoother from the start.

Patient Forms in One Convenient Place

Before your appointment, Pennsauken Diagnostic Center provides access to important forms through the Patient Center, including the Prior Studies Questionnaire, Safety Screening Form, and HIPAA Authorization.

Patients may print, sign, and bring completed forms with them, or complete forms online. For added convenience, the Safety Screening Form is also available in Spanish.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

For Open MRI, Ultrasound, and Digital X-Ray appointments, Pennsauken Diagnostic Center asks patients to arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment.

Patients should also bring their prescription, insurance card, photo ID, and any relevant studies or reports that were not completed at Pennsauken Diagnostic Center.

Open MRI Preparation

Patients scheduled for an Open MRI should leave personal items such as jewelry, watches, and coins at home. Comfortable clothing without metal is recommended, and patients should avoid wearing eye makeup or cosmetics. In some cases, patients may need to change into a gown.

Because metallic objects cannot enter the scanning room, items such as keys, credit cards, eyeglasses, prosthetic devices, dentures, and removable hearing aids must be left outside the exam area.

Pennsauken Diagnostic Center also asks patients to call the office before their appointment if certain conditions apply, including pacemakers, aneurysm clips, neurostimulators, metal implants, joint replacements, permanent tattoos, pregnancy, claustrophobia, or a history of working with metal.

Ultrasound Preparation

Preparation for an ultrasound may vary depending on the type of exam.

For an abdominal ultrasound, patients should not eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke for 8 hours before the exam. A small sip of water may be taken with essential medication.

For a bladder or renal ultrasound, there are no food or medication restrictions, but a full bladder is required. Patients are instructed to drink 48 ounces of water over a 60-minute period beginning 90 minutes before the exam.

For a pelvic ultrasound, there are also no food or medication restrictions, but a full bladder is required. Patients are instructed to drink 24 ounces of water 30 minutes before the exam.

For other regions, there are no restrictions or specific preparation. Patients should dress comfortably in loose, easy-to-remove clothing in case they need to change into a gown.

Digital X-Ray Preparation

Digital X-Ray appointments generally require no food or drink restrictions. Patients should still bring completed forms or complete them online, arrive 15 minutes early, and bring their prescription, insurance card, photo ID, and any relevant studies or reports not completed by Pennsauken Diagnostic Center.

Patients who are pregnant should notify the technician before having x-rays. Personal items may also need to be removed if they could affect the image, and a gown may be required.

Billing and Records Requests

The Patient Center also provides access to billing request information. For billing requests, patients can use the contact information listed on the Record/Billing Request page. Records request information is also provided for patients who need assistance obtaining records.

A More Prepared Visit Starts Here

Pennsauken Diagnostic Center’s Patient Center gives patients a simple way to prepare before their appointment. By reviewing the appropriate prep information, completing forms ahead of time, and bringing the required items, patients can help make their visit as efficient and comfortable as possible.

To get started, visit the Patient Center or contact Pennsauken Diagnostic Center directly with any questions before your appointment.