An Empathetic Approach
Navigating Your Child’s
Medical Imaging Journey WRITTEN BY BENJAMIN RASE, MD
It is natural to feel concerned if your child is sick or injured and needs to undergo an imaging study, such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT or MRI. As a parent, your top priority is your child’s well-being; and the same is true for us at Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI) in Bozeman. As a musculoskeletal radiologist at AMI, I can offer insight into how our care team helps to ensure your child’s safety and comfort during the imaging experience.
What is a Musculoskeletal Radiologist?
Radiologists are medical doctors who are specialty trained to use medical imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, CT-scans, and ultrasounds to diagnose illnesses, diseases and injuries. Most AMI radiologists have additional fellowship specialized training in treating different areas of the body. Musculoskeletal radiologists are experts in imaging and diagnosing injuries and diseases of bones, joints, muscles and
soft tissues in patients of all ages – from newly-pregnant moms and kids injured on the playground to the dads that caught an edge following them down Hully Gully and grandmas who tweaked their knee hiking Hyalite last weekend. AMI has the largest and most experienced group of musculoskeletal radiologists in the state of Montana, all of whom have an in-depth understanding of pediatric musculoskeletal development. Our training and experience allow us to provide more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment recommendations for your family.
Low-dose Radiation
A common concern among parents is the amount of radiation their child may be exposed to from X-ray or CT. In general, the risk of radiation from medical imaging is small. At AMI we take extra precautions to minimize the risks. The fully automated X-ray equipment is optimized for the lowest dose needed to capture a high-quality digital image. Additionally, we follow the radiation protection principles of As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) to reduce the dose and risk as much as possible. Our CT scans for children have specifically designed protocols to reduce radiation and risk. MRI and ultrasound do not use any radiation.
At the AMI Cottonwood location, we have taken further steps to ensure a positive pediatric imaging experience. Our kind, caring and experienced technologists fully discuss the procedure and try to address any concerns parents and children have before any exam begins. When your child walks into the pediatric X-ray room, the walls are papered to look like a forest and the area is filled with the sound of birds chirping to create a welcoming and calming environment for our young patients while technologists perform the imaging exam. Most X-ray exams and CTs are completed in a few minutes, however MRIs can take longer, approximately half an hour. For younger children, we work with the primary doctor and parents to create the most positive MRI experience. Additionally, our MRIs have the capability of playing a patient's music of choice throughout the exam to further improve the experience. Understanding and addressing your child’s emotions during their imaging visit is crucial to making the experience as positive as possible, and AMI strives to partner with parents and children to achieve that goal. When your child needs medical imaging, it can sometimes be stressful. However, at Advanced Medical Imaging our specialized team of technologists and radiologists, as well as utilization of low-dose radiology and a compassionate approach, will make the experience less intimidating and more positive for you and your child. To schedule an appointment, or for additional information, please call 406-414-5201 or visit amibozeman.com. About Benjamin Rase, MD is a fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologist at Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI). AMI is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and is a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in Montana, with two convenient locations in Bozeman. You can learn more at amibozeman.com.
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