Medical Imaging
All of the radiologists and technologists at Ringgold County Hospital are state and board certified. Using specialized equipment, our highly trained professionals obtain pictures of the inside of your body so providers can accurately diagnose your condition and determine the most effective plan of care. If you can name it, we can take a picture of it. Whether you need a routine mammogram, bone density scan, X-ray, CT scan, MRI or ultrasound of your internal organs, we have the technology and the expertise to accurately get the image required by your doctor.
Our Imaging Services
The RCH Medical Imaging Department is proud to house state-of-the-art equipment and imaging technology, including:
The FDA-certified, digital mammography suite at Ringgold County Hospital offers the best in early breast cancer detection, which can save lives. Having the most advanced equipment on-site also means patients don’t have to travel to get the diagnostic medical imaging services they need.
Bone density scanning is an imaging test that measures how dense your bones are. This type of imaging test is also called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry – or DEXA, for short.
DEXA bone scans use X-ray technology to help identify the earliest stages of osteoporosis, which often isn’t diagnosed until after a stress fracture. DEXA scans are recommended for most women 65 and older, and most men 70 and older. If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, or have suffered a suspected stress fracture, your doctor may recommend a DEXA bone density scan.
Computed tomography (CT) scans are created using X-ray technology to take a series of images from different angles. Specialized computer processing puts these images together to create cross-sectional “slices” of target areas of your body. CT scans are used to detect a variety of issues, such as cancer, heart disease, and internal bleeding.
This imaging technique allows medical providers to use real-time video during certain procedures, to aid in diagnosis and treatment. Fluoroscopy uses X-ray technology to create moving images of the inside of your body. It is used during upper and lower GI studies as well as to guide injections during pain management and other procedures.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers extremely crisp, clear, and detailed images of both hard and soft tissue in the body. MRIs are often used to determine the extent of an injury, as well as to help identify possible reasons for back pain, neck pain, and other symptoms.
RCH has partnered with Shared Medical Services to provide mobile MRI services, available right here on the premises of Ringgold County Hospital once a week.
With nuclear medicine, a highly specialized area of radiology, trace amounts of radioactive materials are used to help examine the appearance and function of internal organs, such as the heart, thyroid, gallbladder, bones, and more. The benefit of these types of imaging tests is that it can identify problems at the molecular level.
Ringgold County Hospitals contracts with DMS Health Tech to provide mobile nuclear medicine imaging tests right here at RCH once a week.
Ultrasound uses sound waves, instead of X-ray radiation, to create images of the body’s internal organs and tissue. In most cases, a hand-held transducer is moved gently over the top of your skin to capture the images in real time. Ultrasound imaging can reveal or rule out suspected causes of pain, swelling, or other symptoms you may be experiencing. A special type of ultrasound may be used to measure how well blood flows through your veins, to help identify the presence of blood clots, or other cardiovascular issues.
Diagnostic Imaging in Mount Ayr, IA
At Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa, we can meet all your medical imaging needs and then some – including everything from X-rays and ultrasound to MRIs, bone density scans, and nuclear medicine. Call (641) 464-4400 to find out more, or to request an imaging appointment.
