*UPDATE – We are no longer offering virtual visits, as they are no longer covered by insurance*
As more clinics are offering virtual visits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, more medical data is being shared to providers from clinics and patients. One of the most helpful pieces of information that is often shared if you’re seeking a second opinion or talking with a specialist is imaging results that may have been taken by a general practitioner. It’s not always easy to get two offices to coordinate in order to ensure your images get passed along, so many patients try to obtain a copy of their X-ray or MRI results so that they can pass them along to any medical expert who wants to provide an opinion.
Most patients try to get a copy by simply taking a photo of the image, but you’d be surprised at how often those pictures are deemed unacceptable. In today’s blog, we share some tips for ensuring you take clear and acceptable pictures of your imaging results.
Taking Pictures Of X-Rays
A recent study took a closer look at whether or not we need to or if we could improve the quality of the images that patients were taking of their radiographs. Interestingly, they found that many patients in a sample study did not take acceptable photos of their radiographs, and this was especially true for patients over the age of 50. However, they found that when a physician guided them in how to take a high quality photo of their imaging tests, the vast majority of pictures were clear enough to be considered acceptable.
So if your physician is walking you through the imaging tests, don’t be afraid to ask them to help ensure you take a quality picture of the image. You can even have them take the picture, or you can take it and have them verify that all the important data is visible on your picture.
If you don’t have access to a physician to ensure your picture quality is acceptable, we can take a look at how physicians in the study helped to improve a patient’s picture taking. Some of the physician-guided tips from the study include:
- Making sure the image is clear.
- Making sure any text on the image is visible.
- Making sure there is no reflection or glare on the captured image.
- Image is squared in the photo (not tilted or curled).
- Image is taken from directly above or in front of (not taking an angled picture).
- Image is not inverted in selfie mode.
If you can pass all six of the tests above, there’s a good chance that your image will have all the necessary detail that it will easily and accurately be interpreted by any medical professional who takes a look.