CRMC | Outpatient Testing

Outpatient Testing

When your physician prescribes outpatient testing at Chesapeake General Hospital, you can be assured of the most up-to-date technology, backed by caring, compassionate staff who understand your individual needs. Whether your testing involves lab work, X-rays or cardiac monitoring, Chesapeake General offers a full range of sophisticated diagnostic services.

Bone Densitometry. Bone Densitometry is a test similar to an X-ray that quickly and accurately measures bone density. It is used primarily to detect osteopenia or osteoporosis, diseases in which the bone's mineral content and density are low and the risk of fractures is high. Bone mineral density measures the amount of calcium in a specific region of the bones. From this information, an estimate of bone strength can be made. Unlike the densitometer, ordinary X-rays cannot detect mild bone loss.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A MRI is a type of diagnostic test that uses electromagnetic energy to produce highly detailed and sophisticated cross-sectional images of various body organs. MRI is most useful for providing soft-tissue images, detecting edema in the brain, projecting a direct image of the spinal cord, tumors in the chest and abdomen, and visualizing the cardiovascular system.
Computed Tomography. A CT scan beams ionizing X-rays through a patient's body at multiple angles. These angles are detected and relayed to a computer, programmed with the absorption capacities of the various body tissues. The computer then projects a single composite picture of a specific slice of the abdomen, chest or head on a screen. CTs can visualize internal organs impossible to see with ordinary X-rays.
Ultrasound. Also known as a sonogram, an ultrasound uses high-frequency, inaudible sound waves that are bounced off body tissues and then recorded to give information about the anatomy of an internal organ. Ultrasounds are used to detect a wide variety of conditions and by a range of physicians including radiologists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists and obstetricians/gynecologists.
Laboratory. Routine laboratory work is done on site at the Diagnostic Center of Chesapeake. Those services include EKG testing, pre-employment drug screenings and point of care testing. Most insurances are accepted.
Mammography. A mammogram is an X-ray taken of the breasts and used to diagnose and screen for breast cancer. Done with minimal discomfort, the test takes minutes but can provide significant preventative benefits. Many small tumors can be seen on a mammogram before they can be felt by a woman or her doctor. Cancer is most easily treated and cured when it is discovered at an early stage. Although breast cancer can occur in men, almost 99 percent is found in women.
R2 ImageChecker System. The R2 ImageChecker is a sophisticated piece of computer-aided equipment that can spot details helping to detect breast cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. Used in conjunction with a mammogram, the ImageChecker pinpoints tiny calcifications and abnormal changes in breast tissue that otherwise would go unnoticed. For every 100,000 cancers detected by mammography, the ImageChecker can be expected to find an additional 20,500.
Breast Biopsy. When a breast biopsy is need, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center offers a safe, accurate non-surgical procedure, a mammotome-aided stereotactic biopsy. This state-of-the-art technique uses ultrasound imaging to locate the areas of the breast that at suspect. Tiny tissue samples are then extracted for further study. The procedure is quick, requiring no sutures, and results in minimal pain.

What is an MRI?

MRI is technology that uses a magnetic field to align the molecules of the body. Radio waves are used to prompt the hydrogen atoms of the body in the order to produce signals. The signals are then computer processed and converted into pictures from inside the body. MRI is the latest state-of-art technology in medical diagnostic imaging. An MRI allows doctors to view detailed internal images of the body without exposing patients to potentially harmful X-ray radiation. In many cases, and MRI can lead to early detection and treatment of disease without invasive procedures such as surgery or biopsies.

The exam is simple and painless. Patients lie comfortably on a scanning bed which is open on all four sides. A family member or friend may accompany you. Our expert staff is available throughout the procedure to answer questions and assist you. After the exam you may resume your normal act ivies unless instructed otherwise by a physician. The results will be reported directly to your physician.