</p><p>Ultrasound imaging and thermography are important aspects in healthcare – they definitely cover more than babies. Many diagnoses and treatment plans stem from ultrasound and thermography procedures.
Ultrasounds are used to see internal body structures, such as tendons, muscles, joints, blood vessels and internal organs to find the source of a disease. Ultrasound works by using sound waves with frequencies that are higher than those audible to humans. The images, called sonograms, are made by sending pulses of ultrasound into tissue using a probe. Different tissues reflect varying degrees of sound as the ultrasound echoes off the tissue.
Compared to other diagnostic imaging, ultrasounds have several advantages. They provide real-time images, the machines are portable, they are substantially lower in cost and they do not use harmful ionizing radiation.
Ultrasounds are more than just the machines that produce the images. A sonographer is a highly trained medical professional in each of the specific fields of imaging. An interpreting physician relies heavily on the knowledge, skills and experience of the imaging tech because a sonographer determines what the physician sees. No other imaging modality has this unique quality. Be sure your sonographer is nationally certified and well trained.
Thermography is a non-contact, non-compression and radiation-free imaging alternative that can view the whole body, half the body or, most commonly, breasts. It uses infrared imaging technology. Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero; thermographic cameras detect this radiation, making it possible to see not only without illumination, but also variances in temperatures. These temperature variations can provide vital clues about human and even other mammals’ health.
A New Model for Healthcare Costs: Putting the Patient Back into Healthcare
The changes in health insurance are complex. Long gone are the days when insurance covers the majority of health costs. Knowing the costs or even if a bill will be covered by insurance is as uncertain as a Vegas game of roulette. Here at Patient Choice Ultrasound & Thermography (PCU), we put the patient back into the driver’s seat of their healthcare.
You have a choice and control over the costs of diagnostic imaging with our groundbreaking store-front facility model that eliminates the largest problems patients face in healthcare: high deductibles, lack of transparency in coverage, price discrepancies and ever-increasing costs. Prices are skyrocketing and most people can’t meet their high out-of-pocket deductibles to have procedures covered by insurance in the first place. In fact, the entire insurance model has become so convoluted and lacking in transparency. Our concept is to put the patient back into healthcare because they’ve gotten lost in the process. We emphasize the needs of the patient. We want to make it less of a hassle and more about you – empowering patient choice.
We at PCU decided to become an alternative to high deductibles by eliminating the insurance companies altogether. Other than Medicare and Health Savings Accounts, we do not take insurance, which allows us to keep the costs of imaging services down by at least one-third or more. For instance, an average echocardiogram costs anywhere from $900 to $2,500, but we charge only $385, which includes the reading and visit fees. All our prices are upfront and all-inclusive. We make it reasonable, recognizing most people need to pay out of pocket due to the high deductible amounts in their insurance policies. However, we do include a receipt for patients to submit to their providers to add to their deductible contributions.
Prevention is the key to good health. Diagnostic imaging can quickly catch a condition before it’s too late. The longer you put it off, the more costly, both physically and emotionally. Whatever your doctor orders for diagnostic testing, our prices are reasonable, our times convenient and we have a quick turn-around time. At PCU, you have the choice in cost because there’s no mystery with our upfront, inclusive transparent pricing. We are convenient, comfortable and affordable without sacrificing quality.
About the Author
With 40 years in the field of ultrasound, Kim Davis, RDMS, RDCS, RVS, is the founder and CEO of PCU, 152 W. Tiverton Way in Lexington. PCU can be reached at 859-554-7360 or at www. patientchoiceultrasound.com.
Lexington, KY 40503
859.554.7360
www.patientchoiceultrasound.com
Hours:
Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday appointments always available
Services
Ultrasound
Thermography
Sleep Study Kits
