Kelso (360) 425-5131 | Centralia (360) 736-0200
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We Don’t Treat Patients.  We Treat People.

Caring for others is a highly personal occupation. And we believe the practice of medicine goes beyond just the diagnosis of a particular problem. Here at Longview Radiologists, you’re not just a name or number on an imaging study. You are an individual. And your best interest is our number-one priority. We strive to make every experience you have with us a good one. That’s why everyone on our staff, from the most experienced radiologist to the newest office assistant, takes the time to stop and ask: “What will be best for this person?” From personalized attention or the time we spend providing additional information to our safety protocols and attention to detail, every part of what we do takes us one step closer to our ultimate goal: serving the individual needs of our patients. Because at Longview Radiologists, we don’t just diagnose individual symptoms. We assist in your overall well-being. And we’ve been doing so for over 60 years.

View Our Office Policies
Insurance Coverage
Prepare for Your Exam

The staff was very pleasant & efficient.  The radiologist was caring and let me know step-by-step what was being done.

Cheryn

Kelso, WA

Office Policies

Appointment Cancellations If you are unable to keep an appointment, we ask that you kindly provide us with at least 48 hours notice. This courtesy on your part will make it possible to give your appointment to another patient. Scheduled Exam Arrival Times Appointments for imaging services are scheduled in advance by a referral from your doctor.

  • MRI – Arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled time
  • US/CT/Fluoroscopy/Injection procedures – arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time

Walk-in Appointments Are available for general diagnostic x-rays such as chest, spine, joints, etc.

Emergencies In case of an emergency please call 911.

Billing We are happy to bill all primary and secondary insurance companies upon receipt of the proper billing information. We accept a wide range of insurance, please review the list below and our insurance policies here. Paying out of pocket? We request a down payment at the time of services, with the balance remaining due over 90 days. We also take Visa/MC/American Express & Discover. Cash Discount? No insurance? High deductible? Prefer to pay cash instead of billing your insurance? We offer a cash discount of 30-40% depending on the procedure. Please call our billing office at 360-425-5133 for your estimate.

Questions about Billing?

We would like our patient’s to know we are economical (with the same excellent service) and we welcome them to call for pricing. We give a 40% discount for MRI and CT if the patient pays cash the same date of service. Many people that have large deductibles will waive billing their insurance companies and take the cash discount. We give a 30% discount for ultrasound and x-ray. Outpatient imaging is always less expensive then imaging in a hospital setting —–

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Your Insurance

At Longview Radiologists P.S. we understand the challenge of complying with the numerous and changing requirements of managed care and insurance providers. We are obligated, by contract, to adhere to these requirements. It is important that you verify, and are familiar with, your own insurance coverage and requirements before you come for your exam. Some carriers require precertification for certain exams. We will file all insurance claims as long as the address information is received, whether we contract or not. We accept Medicare assignment for all covered procedures. We do welcome patients with indemnity plans and, as a courtesy, we will file your claim with your commercial carrier. In circumstances where insurance does not apply, we will work with patients in making flexible payment arrangements. For patient convenience, we also accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

It is important to bring your insurance card with you to every visit. A copy will be made when you register, so that the most current information is always available in your records.

Insurance Coverage

Longview Radiiologists is contracted with most all major payors as well as many PPO organizations. There are very few insurance companies that do not come under one of these plans. If there is a specific plan that is not covered we are willing to negotiate, with that company, a one time participating rate so that patient may be seen at the facility of their choice.

  • Workers Compensation
  • Regence
  • Premera
  • Tricare
  • Medicare
  • WA and OR Medicaid
  • Aetna
  • American Specialty Health Networks
  • CIGNA Healthcare of Washington
  • Corvel Corporation
  • First Choice Health
  • First Health
  • Great-West Healthcare
  • MultiPlan, Inc.
  • PacifiCare of Washington
  • Sterling Health Plans
  • PPO Next
  • Healthcare Management
  • Secure Horizons
  • Providence
  • Uniform Medical
  • United Healthcare
  • Molina
  • CHPW
  • …and over 75 more

Preparing for your exam

Select your procedure to view your prep instructions.

Ultrasound
Please allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for all ultrasound exams.
Exam: Required Prep:
  • Obstetrical (4-33 weeks) LMP
  • OB follow-up
  • OB w/Doppler
  • Pelvic
  • Pelvic with endovaginal
  • Retroperitoneal (to include kidneys, aorta, IVC and bladder
 Drink 24 ounces of water 1 hour before your appointment time. Please arrive with a very full bladder.
Complete Abdominal (e.g. liver, gallbladder, aorta, pancreas, spleen) Do not eat or drink anything 6 hours prior to your exam including smoking or chewing gum. You may take your medication as prescribed.
  • Appendix
  • Breast (right) (left) or (bilat)
  • Obstetrical (34+ weeks)
  • Scrotal w/limited Doppler
  • Thyroid/ Appendix
  • Venous Extremity (right) (left) or (bilat)
  • Infant Hips
  • Infant Head
 No Prep Required.
X-rays
Please allow 1 hour for all exams unless otherwise noted.
Exam: Required Prep:
Esophagram: Do not eat or drink anything 2 hours before your exam.
Upper Gastrointestinal Study – UGI: Nothing by mouth after 10:00 p.m the night before the study. Chewing gum and smoking are not allowed.
Small bowel follow through – SBFT: Nothing by mouth after 10:00 p.m. the night before the study. Chewing gum and smoking are not allowed. The length of this exam is determined by how quickly or slowly your body passes the barium through to the large bowel. Please allow 1 – 6 hours for this exam.
Barium Enema: The preparation for the barium enema begins the day before your scheduled appointment time. You will be given a prep kit by your doctor or you will be asked to pick one up at Longview Radiologists. It is very important you follow all the instructions in the prep kit.
IVP: No Prep Required.
VCUG: No Prep Required.
Injections:

  • Arthrogram
  • Joint Injection(hip, wrist, shoulder, knee, ankle)
  • Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) Myelogram
 No Prep Required. Injections: Please notify us if you are taking blood thinners or daily aspirin
MRI
DOWNLOAD MRI Screening Consent Form:

Allow approximately 1 hour for the exam. Wear comfortable, metal free clothing for your exam. Do not wear excessive make-up, bobby pins, watches, jewelry, hearing aids, metal devices, etc. All patients may take medications. Some exams may include injecting contrast material into your veins.
Exam: Required Prep:
  • Non-Contrast Exams:
 No Prep Required.
  • Contrast Exams:
 No solid food four hours prior.  Drink plenty of water to hydrate.
  • MRCP:
 No food or drink after midnight the night before the study.
CT
DOWNLOAD CT Screening Consent Form:

 

Allow approximately 30 minute for the exam. Wear comfortable, metal free clothing for your exam. Some exams may include injecting contrast material into your veins.
Exam: Required Prep:
Non-Contrast Exams: No prep required.
  • CT, Abdomen to Iliac Crest
  • CT, Pelvis
 No solid foods 4 hours prior to exam. Drink at least 1 quart of water prior to your exam unless otherwise instructed by your physician. Drink the entire contents of the liquid you received for this exam 2 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time.
Contrast Exams: No solid foods 4 hours prior to exam. Drink at least 1 quart of water prior to your exam.
Myelogram
If you are on blood thinners, such as Coumadin, you must consult with your physician and stop taking it five days prior to the procedure. You must have a driver to drive you home.  Please allow two hours for this procedure and recovery.  As you will be required to lie still for 45 minutes to an hour after the procedure, you may bring pain medication if necessary.
Fluoroscopy
Exam: Required Prep:
  • Esophagram
 Nothing by mouth 2 hours prior to the study.
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Study (UGI)
 Nothing by mouth after 10:00pm the night before the study. Chewing gum and smoking are not allowed.
  • Small Bowel Follow Through (SBFT)
 Nothing by mouth after 10:00pm the night before the study. Chewing gum and smoking are not allowed. The length of this exam is determined by how quickly or slowly your body passes the barium through the small bowel. Please allow 1-6 hours for this exam.
  • Barium Enema
 The preparation for this exam starts the day before your scheduled appointment time. You will receive a prep kit from your doctor or be asked to pick one up at Longview Radiologists. It is very important to follow the instructions carefully.
  • IVP
 Nothing by mouth 2 hours prior to the exam.
Thoracentesis

There is no preparation for the exam, but be sure to tell your doctor if you:

  • Have any bleeding problems or are taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs, or warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Are or might be pregnant.
  • A current INR result is required and must be less than 30 days old
Paracentesis

There is no preparation for the exam, but be sure to tell your doctor if you:

  • Have any bleeding problems or are taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs, or warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Are or might be pregnant.
  • A current INR result is required and must be less than 30 days old.
Pain Management
If you are scheduled for an Epidural Steroid, Facet, or Sacroiliac Injection and are taking any blood thinners such as Plavix, Coumadin, or adult aspirin stop the medication five days prior to your injection. An INR is needed 24 hrs prior to procedure.

My wife and I send our compliments and appreciation to the staff for their expertise and professionalism.

Jim

Onalaska

Frequently Asked Questions

How open is an open magnet? What is the weight limit?
The Oasis High-Field 1.2T Open MRI is a Bore-less patient friendly open MRI that provides high image quality. Bore-less has always been the patient choice. The Oasis offers an unobstructed view for virtually every exam and is capable of scanning patients up to 660 lbs.. Even the most anxious patients are at ease – whether head or feet first, they can see out. The Oasis High-Field open MRI system at Longview Radiologists measures 3.5 feet (side to side opening), and 17 inches (top to bottom, height of opening)
I'm claustrophobic and anxious about having an MRI examination.
The open MRI magnet provides superior patient comfort and a wide open-air design which helps to minimize claustrophobic effect. We also encourage you to have a loved-one or friend accompany you during the exam if this will make you more comfortable.
Is there any radiation involved in MRI?
There is no radiation involved. MRI uses a combination of radio frequencies and magnetic field to produce images.
Are there any reasons I can't have an MRI exam?
There are objects, particularly metal objects, that are incompatible with a strong magnetic field and they can have potentially harmful effects. You should check with your physician or MRI technologist if you have had any brain, ear, eye or other surgeries or any of the following: pacemakers, brain aneurysm clips, neuro or bone stimulators, surgical staples, implanted drug infusions devices, shrapnel or bullet wounds, BBs, metal fragments in the eye or permanent eyeliner.
What will I experience during the MRI? How long will I be in the magnet? Do I have to hold still?
The MRI procedure will typically last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of information required by the physician. The patient is easily observed by the technologist throughout the study and is able to speak to the technologist at any time. The only requirement is that the patient remain as still as possible during the exam. During the scan, the patient experiences nothing unusual. A variety of sounds, such as humming and thumping noises, will be heard as the scan progresses.
What do I wear?
You may be asked to wear patient scrubs to avoid magnetic interference from belt buckles and zippers. Because of the magnetic field, you will be asked to leave all metal objects outside the room such as coins, jewelry, watches, glasses, credit cards, hearing aides, keys, hair pins, or other metal objects. Secure, locked lockers are provided for our patient’s belongings.
Are x-rays dangerous?
Radiation exposure from x-ray examinations today is minimal. Contemporary x-ray systems deliver a very brief and narrow beam of radiation. Exposure is reduced by limiting beam size and exposure utilizing lead shielding devices when appropriate and limited duration of the exposure. Though pregnant patients or pregnant personnel are of concern with respect to radiation exposure, the American College of Radiology states that there is no single x-ray procedure that results in radiation exposure intense enough to threaten the well being of an embryo or fetus. When an examination can’t be postponed until after delivery, the fetus can be protected by the use of lead shielding and coning techniques. Patients should inform the technologist if there is a possibility of pregnancy before the examination. If you have concerns regarding the amount of radiation involved in any of the tests we offer, please so not hesitate to contact us at 360-425-5131.
What is contrast and is it harmful?
It is important to inform the technologist at the time of your examination or procedure if you have any history of reactions / allergies to a contrast agent such as x-ray dye, medications or substances such as latex. Many X-ray, CT and MRI tests use ‘contrast’. There are several different contrasts that improve the image. These may be taken by mouth or injected into a vein. X-ray contrast contains Iodine bound into a special compound. We use this to show blood vessels, kidneys, and other masses much more clearly – some structures cannot be shown any other way. Unfortunately, there are occasionally some people who are sensitive, or allergic, to contrast. If you are, please let us know; precautions will be taken or an alternative test used. Most people will not be aware of any reaction to the contrast apart from a warm sensation and metallic taste which passes quickly. However, there is a very small subgroup of patients who will react in a more significant way. Reactions usually will be in the form of a rash, but rarely there can be breathing problems and even cardiac arrest – the risk of the most severe reaction is between 1 in 40,000 and 1 in 100,000, and this can result in death. It is impossible to predict who will react to the contrast (unless you have had a previous reaction to contrast), although some people are at more risk, e.g. asthmatics and generally allergic people. Be assured that the modern contrast agents are among the safest medicines around. At Longview Radiologists P.S., Inc we are alert to reactions and have emergency drugs available. All staff are trained in resuscitation.
Do I need to make an appointment?
General diagnostic exams, such as wrist, knees, ankles, etc. do not require appointments. We take these patients on a walk in basis. All other exams do require appointment times. This allows us to serve you and other patients optimally without pressure. However, as we program into the day sessions for urgent cases, all that may be required is a phone call. We aim to be responsive.
Do I need an order from my physician to have an x-ray?
You will need a prescription from your physician for all diagnostic services performed at our imaging center.
Can I compare prices?
Please feel free to compare our prices with other radiology providers. We believe that we provide the best service, given our commitment to high quality equipment and staff.
Can I bring a friend?
We encourage you to bring a friend or family member. They can be a great comfort to you in a time of stress. However, depending on the exam they may not be able to be in the examination room as they will be exposed to unnecessary radiation. However, it is sometimes helpful for parents to accompany young children into the examination room and if possible we will facilitate that. Our Open MRI suite has a comfortable chair within a spacious room to allow you to be near your friend or family member during MRI examinations. Partners are always welcome to be present during pregnancy ultrasounds. We try to accommodate all requests so please ask and we will try to accommodate your wishes.
Do I see the radiologist?
This will depend on the type of examination. Some examinations are performed by the radiologist and others are performed by a technologist trained and registered in his/her particular specialty. A radiologist will interpret the films and a report will be sent to your referring physician so the results can be discussed with you.
Can I discuss the results of my test with the radiologist?
It is preferable that you discuss the results of your x-ray with your referring clinician as your clinician has more knowledge of your illness. He/she can take into consideration your comprehensive clinical symptoms and findings, as well as lab tests and other results.
What if I need my films to take to a specialist?
Your images are stored on a Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) which allows us to send your images to different entities at your request. Just ask and we’ll send your study via electronic means. If for some reason we are unable to send to your specialist the study will be burned to a CD for you to hand carry to your specialist.
Can I have a picture of my baby's ultrasound?
We are happy to supply you with a picture of your baby’s ultrasound. Longview Radiologists offers fetal images which can be used to help bond parents with their fetus. Seeing their baby’s picture for the first time can be a special and lasting moment for expectant parents.
Do I need to wear special clothes?
It is best to wear loose clothes as some tests require you to disrobe. We will provide you with patient scrubs or dressing gowns for your privacy.
How will my doctor get the results?
The report is faxed within 24 hours or less to your referring clinician.
How will I find out my results?
It is important to discuss the results of your test with your health care provider after any examination or procedure. The results can then be compared with your overall health condition, which only your physician or practitioner can access for you.
Can I have a copy of the report?
A report is not usually forwarded to the patient as it is formulated for your clinician and is paraphrased in medical terminology. You are eligible under the Privacy Act to obtain a copy of the report. However, we advise you to obtain a copy from your clinician after discussing the implications of the test results with them.