FAQ

If you experiencing an emergency case requiring immediate attention, please call 911. Contact your physician and have them connect with us on a priority level by calling 408-738-0232 and mentioning the time sensitive circumstances for your case.

When you arrive at our Sunnyvale facility, the staff will greet you and seat you at the waiting room. We will board you for imaging as quickly as possible – average waiting time is 15-20 minutes depending on the type of imaging services required and the schedule on that particular day.

Sunnyvale Imaging Center accepts patients based on referrals from treating doctors, request form can be faxed or emailed to us, or you can use our online form to book yourself or have your doctor refer you via this form.

Once received and processed, our office will call to screen and get you scheduled.

Do you accept my insurance?

Our imaging center accepts most recognized Insurance plans.

We do offer a cash option. If you have a high deductible plan, or insurance that does not cover diagnostic testing, or simply prefer to pay directly, we accept credit card, check, or cash.

Do I need referral?

If you are submitting your bill to a insurance company, a referral with your doctor’s signature is required.Upon completion of your local imaging service, the results will be forwarded to the referring doctor.

If you don’t have insurance coverage, feel free to come to our Sunnyvale Imaging service facility directly. The billing procedure is as explained above. For more information please visit our Insurance and Fee policy.

An MRI scan is a painless radiology procedure that has the advantage of avoiding x-ray radiation exposure. There are no known side effects of an MRI scan. However, patients with artificial heart valves, metallic ear implants, bullet fragments, & chemotherapy or insulin pumps may be at risk during such imaging scans, and may require specific procedures case by case. Please advise your physician and the technicians on arrival if you have any of these conditions.

Yes.

Digital x-rays, panoramic Open MRI, Highfield MRI 1.5T, Diagnostic Ultrasound, DEXA Bone Density. Digital X-Rays only run between 9am – 4:30pm M-F, all other imaging available during normal operating hours.

We do offer EMG /NCS diagnostics testing which is done offsite. All primary imaging mentioned above can all be performed on site at our Sunnyvale, Ca location.

For more information please visit All Imaging Services

On the day of your MRI scan you should be able to eat, drink and take any medication as usual, unless advised otherwise. In some cases, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for up to 4 hours before the imaging procedure. In some cases you may be asked to drink a fairly large amount of water ahead of the procedure to help with better results for that imaging case.

The metal in most fillings is not affected by the MRI system’s magnetic field. However, the fillings may cause some distortion of the images if you are having a scan of your neck, brain or facial area.  Patients with braces may receive an open MRI imaging examination.

Please ask directly ahead of time for specific clarity on your case.

Some cosmetics contain metals that can interact with MRI magnets, so on the day of the MRI don’t wear makeup or nail polish. Also, minimize hair products & don’t use antiperspirants or sunscreens, which usually contain metals, just to be safe. Let the doctor know about any hidden tattoos as this can sometimes be a factor depending on the case.

You will not be allowed to wear anything metallic during an MRI procedure. Leave watches, jewelry or anything made from metal at home. Some cosmetics may also contain small amounts of metals, so it is best to not wear any make-up.

The imaging process itself usually takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. You may receive a contrast solution, usually gadolinium, intravenously to allow the MRI machine to see certain parts of the brain more easily, particularly your blood vessels.

The MRI scanner will make banging noises during the procedure and this is very normal.

Depending on the purpose, an MRI scan can take anywhere from 30 minutes or up to 1 hour & 45 mins.

Our scanning protocol takes about 30-45 minutes and is segmented into several different scans, all depending on your particular situation and physician’s instructions.

Depending on what we are doing, and if we’re utilizing the open or high-field MRI, usually the machines run for roughly 5 minutes at time, and will then stop before again resuming scanning.

Final examination times vary significantly based on a case by case scenario.

The imaging itself generally takes about 30-45 minutes. You may have to wait about 30 minutes before having the scan performed. A subsequent MRI scan may take 30-45 minutes, depending on the joint / area position & the number of scans required.

Diagnostic Ultrasound is used to create images of soft tissue structures, such as the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas, bladder, and other organs and parts of the body. Ultrasound can also measure the flow of blood in the arteries to detect blockages. Ultrasound testing is safe & one of the easiest imaging procedures to perform.

Yes.

Our Technologists are fully trained to deal with imaging for children through elderly as needed.

Just let us know, we’ll contact your referring doctor. Your referring doctor should provide you medication and instruction for how to take it by the time of your imaging appointment.

If you have already been taking drugs prescribed by your doctor, please bring them with you.

Yes.

Free convenient parking is available in front and around the back of our Sunnyvale facility.