Mayfair Diagnostics helps find the answers you need, when you need them
For more than 100 years, Mayfair Diagnostics has been imaging Calgary patients to improve their health.
In 1911, Calgary’s first radiologist started a company, the grassroots of Mayfair Diagnostics. Now one of Western Canada’s leading diagnostic imaging companies, Mayfair Diagnostics is owned and operated by more than 60 radiologists.
Through a combination of community-based medical imaging services, Mayfair Diagnostics’ experienced team uses state-of-the-art technology to serve more than 700,000 patients each year. This includes performing publically covered services at one of its 14 community clinics, and privately paid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which have been offered in Calgary since 1999.
“While the majority of our services are available through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, we do offer private MRI services as a complement to the public health-care system. Our community-based private MRI exams serve patients who, for a variety of reasons, maybeunabletowaitforan MRI within the public system and choose to pay for their MRIs privately,” says Dr. Sarah Koles, lead radiologist at Mayfair Diagnostics.
Dr. Koles has been with Mayfair since 2006 and specializes in imaging of muscles and joints.
“Daily I meet patients who have been dealing with chronic pain or a disability. They’ve exhausted conservative treatment options, like rest, physiotherapy, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, medication, etc., without improvement and still do not have a clear diagnosis for their symptoms. In these cases, MRI can be helpful by providing a really detailed look at what’s going on inside the patient.”
Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to provide very clear images of areas of the body, without radiation. Since treatment plans are most ef- fective when there is a clear understanding of the source of symptoms, MRI can clarify the diagnosis and better direct therapy.
Through Mayfair Diagnostics’ community-based private MRI services, patients receive high-quality imaging paralleling that in the hospital, but with easier access. Mayfair’s very experienced staff includes highly qualified technologists and support staff, and specialized radiologists who interpret the images.
Mayfair Diagnostics’ team of radiologists has subspecialty expertise in neuroradiology, body, cardiac/ chest, breast and musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging, to name a few. As imaging technology and techniques evolve, sub-specialized interpretation ensures that patients receive a thorough diagnosis, allowing them to save time and focus on treatment options. Often this puts patients on the path to recovery quicker.
“Whether it’s identifying a targeted area for treatment with surgery or an injection, finding an illness early, or excluding serious pathology, a clear diagnosis can provide peace of mind for patients. Ultimately it’s about taking care of our patients,” says Dr. Koles.
Whether public or private, an MRI must be requested by a health-care practitioner. To determine whether an MRI is recommended, patients and their doctors often review how long symptoms have been present, how they affect daily activities, what therapies have been tried, and what imaging exams — such as X-ray or ultrasound — have been done. They may also look at different treatment options, their possible outcomes and risks, and whether a private MRI is appropriate for their situation.
If a private MRI scan is indicated as the best next course of action for a patient, a requisition will be provided and the appointment can be booked. It’s important to note that while an MRI doesn’t use radiation, it is a very large magnet and patients will need to ensure they are properly screened (for metal objects) and changed prior to their exam.
Mayfair Diagnostics compassionate and specialized team leads the way in providing comprehensive screening, diagnostic and interventional medical imaging services across 14 locations in Calgary and Regina. This includes private pay MRI and computed tomography (CT) services, as well as bone mineral densitometry, breast imaging, cardiac imaging, image-guided pain therapy, nuclear medicine imaging, ultrasound and X-ray services covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
Through integrated technology solutions, Mayfair Diagnostics also performs thousands of interpretations each year for rural health regions throughout Western Canada, the Yukon and Northwest Territories to help improve patient care and access.
For more information about Mayfair Diagnostics locations and services, visit radiology.ca.