In House X-Rays Specialist
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Intermountain Spine and Orthopedics
David M. Christensen, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon located in Twin Falls, ID
Dr. David Christensen and his team at Intermountain Spine and Orthopedics provide in-house x-ray services at their Twin Falls, ID location, to ensure convenience for the patient as well as quicker availability of the images which allow us to provide a thorough and accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. This means that patients do not have to make multiple visits to the clinic or to a diagnostic clinic. This is especially important in emergency situations where a patient may have sustained a fracture. Other X-Rays such as chest X-Rays and abdomen and other X-Rays can also be obtained at the request of another healthcare provider.
In-house X-rays Q & A
What Are X-Rays?
X-rays harness a form of energy to penetrate the body to produce images of the bones and some internal organs and structures. One of the most established forms of diagnostic medical imaging, x-rays send a beam of energy through your body to a digital plate behind it, creating a shadowed image of the tissues that are not penetrated by the beam. Different tissues in the body absorb the x-rays to varying degrees, for example, the calcium in our bones blocks the energy completely, so it is an effective tool for doctors to ‘look’ at your bones. However, while x-rays are particularly useful in examining bones, such as the vertebrae, they do not show nerve damage or herniated discs.
Are X-Rays safe?
X-rays are considered safe and effective in most cases for diagnosing skeletal issues and more in children as well as adults. The radiation involved in x-rays is controlled and kept at low levels. Technological advances make x-rays safer all the time and, in many cases, the equipment is digital and produces images immediately, which allows for quicker diagnoses and treatment.
Intermountain Spine and Orthopedics does provide x-rays utilizing a digital radiography system.
Digital radiography is a form of X-ray imaging, where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also, less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional X-Rays.
Instead of X-ray film, digital radiography uses a digital image capture device. This gives advantages of immediate image preview and availability; elimination of costly film processing steps; a wider dynamic range, which makes it more forgiving for over- and under-exposure; as well as the ability to apply special image processing techniques that enhance overall display quality of the image.
What Conditions are X-rays used to diagnose?
Dr. Christensen and the team at Intermountain Spine and Orthopedics use x-rays to diagnose a variety of conditions including:
- Chipped, broken, or dislocated bones
- Joint and spine injuries
- Bone infections
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Scoliosis
In addition, other healthcare providers can have their patients obtain X-Ray images of other parts of their bodies if needed, and these images can be viewed on a private, password-protected website.
Insurance and Billing
We accept most major insurance plans. If you don't see your insurance, call the office and let us help you. Fees and payments: We make every effort to decrease the cost of your medical care. Therefore, we request payment arrangements for all office services at the time they are rendered unless prior arrangements have been made. We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover for your convenience. If we are a participating provider of your insurance company, we will bill them. However, payment is the patient's responsibility. We will help in any way we can to assist you in handling claims. Referrals: please bring in all paperwork or call into the office.
