Northwest Indiana ER & Hospital's prompt imaging services help pinpoint diagnosis and expedite treatment
NW Indiana 24/7 ER & Hospital provides care for both adult and pediatric patients with a focus on patient satisfaction. The facility, located at 7904 Cabela Drive in Hammond, features a comfortable but modern environment, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and drastically reduced wait times.
“We are dedicated to providing patients with high-quality, attentive services, and our imaging and laboratory capabilities are a crucial component of that mission,” said Goce Lazoski, lead radiology technologist. “Imaging and laboratory services are a pivotal part of effective emergency treatment.”
MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans are invaluable tools that allow doctors to quickly determine the type, severity, and location of an injury. Ultrasounds and other imaging equipment help to identify blockages, abnormalities, and other health issues.
Imaging services at NW Indiana ER & Hospital are approved by the state of Indiana. The experienced and knowledgeable staff performs about 150 scans per week of each type of imaging: MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds.
Every test and scan is evaluated by NW Indiana ER & Hospital's expert team of physicians, radiologists, and technicians, ensuring that patients get the results that they need faster and more efficiently.
“We offer imaging as part of diagnostics through our onsite ER and as an outpatient service,” Lazoski said.
MRIs are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday (and on the weekend, they are available on-call). Ultrasounds, CT scans, and X-rays are available 24 hours per day through NW Indiana ER & Hospital. These imaging services are considered to be a part of the first line of care (with prior approval through insurance) so they do not need to be scheduled in advance.
“As far as MRI on an outpatient service basis, we strive to get those done the same day or the next day with a physician order,” Lazoski said. “When it comes to our turnaround, NW Indiana ER & Hospital gets the patient in and out in a prompt, efficient manner. A patient is not waiting a couple of weeks to get an MRI. If we can get approval today for the insurance, we will get them in right away.”
For outpatient services, such as imaging or laboratory tests, a physician order is necessary. To initiate the process, the physician must fill out the order form and fax it to NW Indiana ER & Hospital via its secure system. Upon receipt and review of an order, the patient services manager reaches out to the physician's office in case of any questions.
NW Indiana's ER & Hospital team then contacts the insurance company to begin the pre-authorization process. Testing is covered by most private insurance companies. Once pre-authorization is confirmed, the staff informs the approval and schedules the scan.
“We work with a number of the physicians in the area who need their patients to get a cat scan or MRI in a hurry,” Lazoski said. “The radiologist and I will coordinate sending the images to the physician's email so that he or she gets them right away. Then they can decide what plan of care they want to provide for their patient before they leave our building. In case they need to be seen immediately by the health care team, we have the ER at this location and move them right next door for evaluation.”
“Our CT scans are GE Optimas equipped with three-dimensional imaging for sharpness and clarity,” Lazoski added. “Our X-ray and ultrasound equipment also is digital and portable so we can bring the imaging to our patients wherever they are in the building (if they are not on the ER side). The patient does not need to come to us.”
For more information about outpatient imaging services at NW Indiana ER & Hospital, visit nwindianaer.com. To schedule an appointment for imaging services, contact Jessica Hubbard, director of Marketing, at jhubbard@nwindianaer.com or Lazoski at glazoski@nwindianaer.com.
