Diagnostic imaging services are available at Buffalo Medical Group offices at
85
High Street, Buffalo, 295 Essjay Road and 425 Essjay Road in Williamsville.
As a convenience for our patients, imaging exams can be performed at those
locations quite often at the same time they visit their physicians. All
images are read the day they are taken and the results are sent to the
patient's doctor within 24 hours. In the case of an emergency, physicians
receive the results immediately.
Appointments for imaging services at all sites can be made by calling the
Scheduling Office at 857-8777. Our goal is to schedule appointments at a
time and location most convenient for our patients.
General radiology, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine services are
available at 85 High Street Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5 pm.
Ultrasound is available from 7:30 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. The
High Street Imaging Services Department can be reached by calling 857-8628.
The Imaging Services Department at 295 Essjay Road is open Monday through
Friday from 7:30 am to 8 pm, and offers the following services: general
radiology, fluoroscopy, ultra-sound, CT scan, nuclear medicine, bone
densitometry, and digital mammography. The phone number for the
Williamsville Imaging Services Department is 630-1112.
The Buffalo
Medical Group uses a Picture Archive Communication System (PACS), filmless
technology that enables BMG physicians to view images on computers in their
offices. The images can also be transferred to a CD for review by referring
physicians outside of the BMG.
In response to the needs of its patients and to assist physicians in making
a definitive diagnosis, the Buffalo Medical Group now offers Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) services at its 425 Essjay Road location.
MRI technology uses a combination of radio waves and a magnetic field to
produce extremely detailed images. A typical exam takes 30 minutes or
slightly longer for those procedures that require the injection of a
solution to enhance the image.
Prior to a scheduled exam, a member of the MRI staff will contact the
patient to ask a series of questions regarding any type of metal he or she
may have in their body. It is very important to obtain that information
prior to the exam to avoid possible delays in completing the testing.
The highly trained and experienced MRI staff is dedicated to ensuring
patient comfort and safety while providing BMG physicians with the detailed
images they need to make an accurate diagnosis.
The Buffalo
Medical Group MRI facility is fully accredited by the American College of
Radiology (ACR).
General radiologic procedures include, but are not limited to, x-rays of
the chest, abdomen, spine, skull and extremities. These exams are performed
by licensed radiologic technologists. A referral/request from the patient's
physician must be presented prior to the examination. These x-rays can be
performed any time during our designated business hours listed previously.
No preparations are required for these procedures. Some exams require the
patient to change into a gown. All metal (jewelry, watches, zippers,
buttons, etc.) in the area to be x-rayed must be removed.
Fluoroscopic imaging procedures include, but are not limited to the upper
gastrointestinal (UGI) examinations, barium swallows, barium enemas,
epidurography and myelography. Most fluoroscopic procedures require some
preparation by the patient which often includes fasting from food and
liquids for a designated period of time. In the case of a barium enema, the
preparation also includes a cleansing of the colon that starts several days
prior to the exam. This information is explained to the patient at the time
the exam is scheduled. Due to the fasting requirements of these exams, most
fluoroscopic x-rays are scheduled in the morning. These exams which evaluate
the digestive system, involve the use of a contrast solution. For the UGI
and barium swallow, the contrast is a "white milkshake" drink.
For the barium enema, a similar contrast solution is introduced through
the rectum, which allows evaluation of the lower digestive system. For
epidurography and myelography, a clear contrast solution is injected into a
region of the spine.
All fluoroscopic exams are
performed by a radiologist (a physician who specializes in radiologic
testing) with assistance by a licensed radiologic technologist.
The Buffalo Medical Group's comprehensive array of imaging services
includes a technologically advanced Bone Densitometry unit at its 295 Essjay
Road office. This exam, which involves a quick scan of the hip and spine,
calculates a patient's risk for osteoporosis by measuring bone mass.
This exam enables the physician to compare a patient's Bone Mass
Measurement (BMM) with the normal results of patients of the same age range.
Patients who are diagnosed with osteopenia (mild bone loss) and osteoporosis
can have periodic scans in order to monitor changes in bone mass.
More than 28 million women currently suffer from osteoporosis or have low
bone mass. This figure may approach 40 million in the next 20 years if steps
are not taken to prevent this disease. Studies show that low bone mass
causes 1.5 million fractures each year. Even though men can develop
osteoporosis, women are at greater risk. This is due to the fact that women
tend to build less bone than men when they are young and experience a rapid
skeletal bone loss due to the decrease in estrogen production following
menopause. Surveys indicate that 75 percent of women age 45-75 never discuss
osteoporosis with their physicians.
This exam is performed by a licensed radiologic technologist who has
specialized training in bone density. Although appointments are recommended
for this exam,"walk-ins" can be accommodated, if necessary. The entire test
takes approximately 20 minutes, and patients are requested not to take a
"calcium supplement" on the day of the exam. Patients who wear clothing that
does not contain metal in the torso area, will not be asked to change into a
patient gown. All results are sent to the referring physician, and the
results also are available on the Buffalo Medical Group PACS.
Buffalo Medical Group's fully accredited Mammography Service has acquired
a new digital mammography system that provides its physicians with clear,
precise digital images, enhancing their ability to detect and diagnose
breast cancer.
Located in the Imaging Department at 295 Essjay Road in Williamsville,
the digital mammography system features the most advanced technology
available to patients today. BMG is among the only a handful of
Western New York breast health providers that offers patients digital
mammography screening.
Digital mammograms takes about half the time as those performed with
x-ray film, is more comfortable for the patients, and images are available
to be read within 10 seconds. If a second opinion is needed, the
images can be sent electronically to a consulting physician within minutes.
The BMG Mammography service is accredited by both the American College of
Radiology and the Federal Drug Administration. Exams are performed by
licensed and certified technologists, and all patients receive the results
of their mammograms.
Mammograms are performed Monday through Saturday, with extended evening
hours. Appointments are recommended, but emergencies can be accommodated. If
requested, a bone densitometry appointment can be scheduled prior to or
after a mammogram, thus eliminating another visit by the patient.
Ultrasound is a diagnostic procedure that uses sound waves instead of
x-rays to create images. Since its inception in the 1970s, ultrasound exams
have become a highly used and valued service in imaging departments. The
ultrasound departments at the 85 High Street and 295 Essjay Road locations
have identical state-of-the-art equipment and are fully accredited by the
American College of Radiology (ACR).
The Buffalo Medical Group offers a full range of diagnostic ultrasound
tests including, but not limited to fetal, renal, pelvic and abdominal.
Ultrasound images enable physicians and technologists to view the pathology
of various organs and body structures. Highly skilled registered
technologists perform ultrasound exams, and the results are interpreted the
same day. These images also are available on the PACS.
The
majority of ultrasound appointments are scheduled in advance, but
technologists accommodate emergencies when necessary.
Computerized axial tomography (CT scanning) was introduced to imaging
departments in the mid 1970s, but it wasn't until the early 1980s that the
CT scanner was considered a necessary component for diagnostic imaging.
During the last three decades CT technology
has developed rapidly making it possible to
perform scans quickly, thereby reducing a patient's exam time. New
technology, combined with fast CT scanning times, enables physicians
to diagnose various diseases and pathologies such as tumors, masses, cysts,
malignancies, and bowel/renal obstructions.
Buffalo Medical Group, PC, recently installed the most technologically
advanced CT scanner available to health care providers today. The new CT
scanner, a
SOMATOM®
Definition AS+ developed by Siemens Healthcare, adapts to virtually any
patient, provides each person with complete dose protection, and
significantly improves the quality of the diagnostic information
clinicians receive.
Key features of
the SOMATOM® Definition AS+ include:
Ø
Adaptive 4D (high definition) Spiral technology that enables doctors to
differentiate, characterize, isolate and distinguish the tissue, making it
easier to determine the disease.
Ø
Quicker scanning and enhanced imaging.
Ø
A
dose shield that manages the radiation dose in 100 percent of spiral
examinations, blocking unnecessary doses for patients before and after the
spiral scan.
Ø
A
78cm bore, a broad imaging range and a 485-pound table weight capacity that
can accommodate obese patients.
Ø
The ability to perform virtually any type of exam from vessel imaging to
cardiac tests to cancer staging.
Ø
Enhanced pulmonary disease staging to include Lung computer-aided detection
(CAD).
BMG
offers
CT scanning at its 295 Essjay Road office Monday through Friday from 7 am to
7 pm. CT scans must be scheduled, but an urgent CT exam can be performed the
same day as requested by a physician. CT exams are performed by licensed
technologists, and all exams are interpreted by a radiologist on the day of
service. They also are available for review by the referring physician on
the PACS. Most CT exams involve an injection of a contrast solution.
However, some also entail drinking an oral contrast for maximum enhancement
of the CT images. For CT exams that require a contrast solution, the patient
must fast from food and drink four hours prior to the appointment.
The
CT Department is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology
(ACR.)
The Buffalo Medical Group offers nuclear medicine services at its 295
Essjay Road and 85 High Street offices. Both locations have identical
state-of-the art nuclear medicine cameras that enable technologists to
perform various studies.
Nuclear medicine studies evaluate the function or performance of a body
part to determine if an organ is working properly. All nuclear medicine
exams involve the injection of a small and harmless amount of a radioactive
tracer prior to scanning the body part. This enables the camera to produce
images of the organ or body part. For most nuclear medicine exams, there is
no preparation.
All exams are performed by certified nuclear
technologists who have had extensive nuclear medicine training. Exams are
interpreted the same day, and the images also are available for review by
the referring physician on the PACS.
Both Nuclear Medicine locations have full accreditations by the American
College of Radiology (ACR.)
MRI
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MRI Diagnostic Testing Information - Page 2
CT Scanner
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CT Scanner
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