In-House X Ray, Blood Work & Ultrasounds
As a commitment to a person’s general health, Premier Family Medical offers patients conveniently offers in-house work
X RAY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Maintaining our patients’ musculoskeletal health is a priority at Premier Family Medical. Here, our doctors provide accurate diagnoses of many conditions using advanced x-ray technology.
Q: What is musculoskeletal health?
A: The musculoskeletal system includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, and the associated tissues which allow the body to move. This system helps the body maintain its structure and form. When pain begins in the muscles, bones, or other tissues it can be the result of a sudden injury or part of a chronic condition. A healthy musculoskeletal system is critical to other aspects of physical health, including overall well-being and quality of life. Conditions which affect it include:X-rays can be performed at Premier Family Medical to determine what condition is affecting the patient.
Q: What types of x-ray technology does the practice use?
A: All of the offices have an x-ray technician available at all times for x-rays and DEXA scans, even after-hours and at night clinics. Premier has a complete x-ray room which can provide detailed diagnoses. A unique aspect of the office, the DEXA Scanner imaging machine, helps the doctors to diagnose osteoporosis. This works by measuring the density of a patient’s bones. Since the office accepts most insurance plans, patients do not need to visit the hospital to use this technology. The scanner has the precision needed to display changes in bone mass and geometry as little as 1% and in muscle mass as little as 5%.
Q: Who should undergo bone density scanning?
A: This is recommended for:
BLOOD WORK QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
As a commitment to a person’s general health, Premier Family Medical offers patients blood work and laboratory testing. Those throughout the Utah County area can have a wide variety of lab tests performed which can diagnose medical disorders and screen for illness.
Q: What are blood tests?
A: Blood tests help doctors check for signs of particular illnesses and conditions. They assess the function of a person’s organs and are used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments for conditions like high cholesterol or thyroid disorders. Some of the specific conditions blood tests help to diagnose include:Blood tests are used regularly when diagnosing or monitoring illness. When patients undergo routine exams, blood tests are used for regular screenings. While most tests do not require the patient to prepare in advance, some blood tests require fasting for 8-12 hours prior to the test. Patients are advised in advance if fasting or other preparations are needed.
Q: What are laboratory tests used for?
A: Laboratory tests are commonly ordered by internists and primary care physicians to screen for several conditions and illnesses. Lab tests require a sample of urine, stool, blood, or tissueQ: How are lab tests analyzed?
A: Premier Family medicine has an in-house laboratory to complete all patient testing in an efficient and timely manner. The testing technique varies depending on what condition is being checked or monitored. Test results often are presented in ranges indicating if the patient’s levels of proteins, cholesterol, or hormones are within a healthy or unhealthy range. When the doctor receives the test results, he or she will share them with the patient and discuss what, if any, changes or treatment are necessary to help the patient improve or maintain optimal health. The doctor may also compare test results against previous test results to determine if a condition is changing or if treatment is effective. If patients have any questions about their lab results, the doctors at Premier Family Medical are available to talk about the results and answer questions.ULTRASOUND QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
To help diagnose a variety of conditions and illnesses, Premier Family Medical uses ultrasound exams. The real-time images help doctors see exactly what is going on inside the body.
Q: What is an ultrasound?
A: Ultrasounds are safe, painless tools used to produce images of the inside of the body through sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, uses a handheld transducer and gel applied directly to the skin over the area of the body to be scanned. High-frequency sound waves are directed through the body from the transducer and are amplified by the gel. The transducer records the sounds which bounce off of the organs and a computer uses the information to create an image on a monitor. Ultrasounds don’t use ionizing radiation like x-rays do, so there are no radiation concerns. Since ultrasound images are taken in real-time, they can also display the structures and movements of the internal organs and blood flowing through the vessels.
Q: What are some common uses of an ultrasound?
A: Ultrasounds may help to diagnose a number of conditions and assess any damage done to the organs following an illness or injury. Ultrasounds can assess causes of symptoms including:
