Ultrasound

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound scan is a diagnostic imaging tool that uses high frequency sound waves to create images of specific areas of the body to diagnose various pathologies. Ultrasound is also well known as US scan or diagnostic medical sonography. The medical images are obtained by the diagnostic medical sonographer who performs examinations, records anatomic condition and provides diagnostic information to a radiologist, who shares it with the ordering physician.

What are the benefits and risks of an ultrasound scan?

An ultrasound scan produces detailed images of your body to help your doctor make an informed diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. Please be advised patients are not exposed to radiation during an ultrasound scan.

Referring a Patient

A Diagnostic Imaging requisition form must be completed by a physician for patients to be referred for an ultrasound scan at Mackenzie Health.

Please ensure the requisition form includes the referring physician’s information and signature, patient information and patient’s clinical history.

To obtain a copy of the Diagnostic Imaging requisition form, visit the referral and consent forms page. Physician offices can fax a patient Diagnostic Imaging requisition form to 905-883-0772.

How do I receive my appointment date and time?

Please allow three to five business days for a completed requisition form to be reviewed and processed by Mackenzie Health.

A representative from the Mackenzie Health Scheduling Office will call you to advise:

• Appointment date,  time and location
• Arrival time
• Associated preparation instructions for the test

If you receive a voicemail from the Scheduling Office, please call 905-883-1212 ext. 2004 from Richmond Hill or 905-417-2000 ext. 2004 from Vaughan to complete the pre-registration process.

You can also log in to MyChart to view appointment dates/times, confirm your upcoming appointments and complete the pre-registration process using the eCheck-In service.

Online convenience with MyChart

What will I have online access to?
If you sign up for MyChart, you will have online access to:

• Check in online 7 days prior to your next appointment using our eCheck-In* service
• View past and upcoming appointments
• View preparation instructions for upcoming appointments
• Complete pre-visit questionnaires*
• Cancel appointments*
• Update your demographics at any time (includes address, phone number, family physician, and more)
• View lab and test results
• View and share Diagnostic images including x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans and more
• Clinical notes on your care and treatment
• Track your health*
• Access your list of conditions or medical concerns diagnosed at Mackenzie Health as well as your prescribed medications and known allergies

*Available for select clinics

You can register for MyChart when scheduling an appointment or you can sign up online at mychart.mackenziehealth.ca.

How do I prepare for an ultrasound?

You will receive a reminder notification a few days prior to your scheduled appointment. Please ensure you confirm or cancel through the automated system.

At the time of booking, you will be advised by the Scheduling Office on your arrival time.

• A reminder, Mackenzie Health is a scent-free environment.

Please follow any preparations provided when scheduling your appointment:

• Bring your valid health card.
• You may be advised to change into a hospital gown
• Family members accompanying a patient will be invited to the examination room towards the end of the ultrasound exam. It allows a technologist to perform a detailed diagnostic medical sonography with no distractions.
• Please do not wear any jewelry or other metal objects close to the area being scanned.
• Wear loose-fitted and comfortable clothing

What do I do if I have an allergy to local anesthetics or latex?

If you have a known allergy to latex please inform the diagnostic medical sonographer who is performing your exam – non-latex material will be used during the exam.

If you are scheduled for an ultrasound guided biopsy (tissue sampling) and have a known allergy to local anesthetic or any other medications used during the procedure, please inform the technologist and radiologist performing the procedure.

How long does an ultrasound take?

On average, an ultrasound scan will take vary between 30 minutes to one hour.

Is there any contrast material used for ultrasound scan?

Mackenzie Health does not use any contrast materials for ultrasound scans.

Patients who are pregnant are able to have an ultrasound scan. In fact, an ultrasound scan is a frequent routine medical imaging exam used for an assessment of the pregnancy.

What do I do when I arrive at the hospital?

For appointments at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital:

• Patients may park in the visitors parking lot, located north of the hospital, and enter through the D-wing entrance near the Emergency Department. Click here for more information on parking services.
• Please allow yourself extra time during peak hours, as finding parking can take longer than expected. If possible, consider taking public transit, or getting dropped off by a family member or friend.
• Check in at Patient Registration located on the second level of the  C-Wing using our self-serve kiosks.

Map to Patient Registration:

How do I reschedule my appointment?

Please provide 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Patients can cancel their appointments online using MyChart but will need to reschedule by calling the patient scheduling office at 905-883-1212 ext. 2004 from Richmond Hill or 905-417-2000 ext. 2004 from Vaughan.

Mackenzie Health has partnered with PocketHealth to give patients online access to view and share their images from our hospital and other participating organizations at a reduced fee.  This includes x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans and other medical imaging results.

Log in to your MyChart account to access this and additional features including eCheck-In, lab and test results, preparation instructions for upcoming appointments and more!

What are the benefits to accessing my images online?

By accessing your images online, you can:

• Save time as there’s no need to visit the hospital to obtain a CD
• Save money on parking and reduced fees
• Share your images online directly with your requesting physician
• View images from our and other participating hospitals and x-ray clinics

To learn more, please visit the MyChart FAQs section of our website.

How do I sign up?

Log in to your MyChart Account, visit the Test Results page and follow the link to our partner site, PocketHealth.  From there, you can access your images in three easy steps:

1. Enter your patient information, including name, date of birth and health card number
2. Consent to the terms and conditions of the services being provided
3. Complete a secure payment of $5

Can I come to the hospital and pick up my images in person?

You can request a CD copy of your health records from Health Information Services at Mackenzie Health for a small fee. Please visit our Health Information Services page for more information.