YRMC imaging dept. expands hours
Center aims to perform tests in timely manner
With many community members maintaining a busy work and personal schedule during the traditional work week, Yuma Regional Medical Center Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging recently expanded its hours.
According to Jennifer Stanton, administrative director of clinical operations at YRMC, another reason for the extension is to ensure that patients can get their tests completed in a timely manner.
“We had gotten some feedback and we also met with some community providers about what they are hearing from their patients, and one of the issues was they felt they were having some obstacles or felt they could not get an appointment soon enough,” Stanton explained. “We really started looking at what availability we had built into the computer system, how they schedule appointments as well as extending the hours.”
“What we felt is there are people that go to the doctor, whether they are just getting off work or if they are picking up their kids to get them to the doctor, and the doctors’ offices are very busy,” she added.
“They may not get out until 5:00 or after and if they need an X-ray done or any kind of imaging study done we want to be able for them to get in in a timely manner and get those results back to the physician so they can be treated quicker.”
With the initial changes in the schedule, Stanton said Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging has added 200 patients. Additionally, she stated that the center has increased the appointment slots and the availability for appointments during the lunch hour from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
To accommodate the new hours, Stanton said the center had to get creative with scheduling and varying shifts as no new staff members were hired.
“Actually, some of the staff volunteered and they were really happy that that was going to happen because they have heard themselves from the community about some challenges (of) getting scheduled in a timely manner,” she noted.
Twice a week, the center will be open until 8 p.m. as well as on a Saturday once a month. Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging is located in the YRMC Medical Plaza, 1501 W. 24th St., Suite B.
The center offers bone density scans, CT (computerized tomography), digital mammography, fluoroscopy (study of moving body structures), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound and X-ray.
The following is a list of YRMC Outpatient Services newly expanded hours:
Monday/Wednesday, 6:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, 6:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
2nd Sat. of each month, 6:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (928) 336-7400.