It’s one of those things no one looks forward to – the doctors’ recommendation of a colonoscopy. Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers knows that this procedure is one that patients dread. But we’ve got good news. Advances in technology have made the colonoscopy a less invasive procedure for many.

A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a gastroenterologist to examine and evaluate the inside of the colon (also called the large bowel). This is done via two types of colonoscopies. Jacksonville patients have the choice between an optical and a virtual procedure. In the traditional optical colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist inserts a long, flexible tube called a “colonoscope” into the patient’s anus and gently glides into the rectum and through the colon. The colonoscope has a thickness about the size of a finger and outfitted with a tiny camera that captures video images of the patient’s inner colon lining. Images are transmitted to a television monitor for viewing by the gastroenterologist and other physicians.

In a virtual colonoscopy, a small tube is inserted into the anus, but not advanced into the rectum. Instead, the tube injects and fills the colon with air. A CT scan is performed and images are manipulated by the computer software to create virtual images of the colon. Though both types of procedures typically involve some discomfort (often described as a bloated feeling), the virtual colonoscopy is less invasive and pressure is less intense.

With a properly performed virtual colonoscopy, Jacksonville patients can be assured results that are just as conclusive and effective as those delivered by an optical colonoscopy. In fact, virtual colonoscopies often catch tiny polyps hiding behind folds in the lining of the colon that optical colonoscopies miss. However, a virtual colonoscopy is less effective than an optical colonoscopy in detecting polyps smaller than 5mm and flat or non-protruding polyps and cancers. Also, a virtual colonoscopy cannot remove polyps. So, if they’re found, a patient may still have to undergo an optical colonoscopy as well.

Your physician can help decide which type of colonoscopy is best for you. And Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers can perform either, as well as additional gastrointestinal imaging exams that may further support the results of your colonoscopy. These include ultrasound, MRI, PET scan or digital radiology procedures. If your doctor has recommended a colonoscopy, contact Jacksonville’s most comprehensive imaging specialists at 904-996-8100 or via our online appointment scheduling form.

Valentine’s Day has hearts all a flutter. So what better time for a Presidential Proclamation to declare American Heart Month than February? If your doctor has recommended a cardiac CTA, Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers has a few heart-healthy tips to keep your ticker going strong.

The statistics are less than heartwarming. According the AHA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States, killing about a half million people each year;

• Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks and one victim out of three dies;
• 90% of Women have one or more risk factors that can lead to heart disease;
• More than 82 million American adults – one in three people – are estimated to have one or more types of cardiovascular disease;
• Each day, about 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease. That’s an average of one death every 39 seconds;
• Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women 20 and older, killing about one woman every minute — a more than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

The best way to assess your heart health risk is to get a cardiac CTA. Jacksonville-area patients of Precision Imaging Centers who undergo cardiac CTAs get the top-rated screening and diagnostic standard of care featured on national television during medical segments of Oprah and Good Morning America. Our center uses the combined diagnostic results from a Cardiac CT Angiography, a cardiac MRI and PET/CT scans to provide the most comprehensive cardiac examination possible. We rank among leading hospitals nationwide in examining and evaluating the extent of coronary artery disease and the resulting heart function.

If your doctor recommends a cardiac CTA, Jacksonville, ask for a referral to Precision Imaging Centers, where you’ll get exceptional care for up to 90% less than you’ll pay at a hospital for comparable exams. Plus, we’re open early mornings, late evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy schedule. Call 904-996-8100 or make an appointment online today.

Precision Imaging Centers offers top-line Cardiac CTA, Cardiac MRI and PET/CT diagnostic scans to help keep your heart healthy.

At Precision Imaging Centers, we’re about more than producing the images that will help you and your doctors keep you healthy. We’re about helping you imagine healthier living too. So BEFORE you need a Cardiac CTA, cardiac MRI or PET/CT scan, we offer these heart-healthy tips in honor of World Heart Day September 26:

1. Skip the saturated fat, processed foods and high salt-content snacks. Instead, opt for healthier selections like fruits, veggies and unsalted nuts.
2. Get going. Just 30 minutes of vigorous activity such as a brisk walk, swim or game of tennis can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
3. Break the habit. Your risk of coronary heart disease is slashed in half within a year of your quitting smoking for good. Stick with it and your risk could fall back to normal, non-smoker levels with time.
4. Clear the Smoke. Insist on a smoke-free environment in your home and at your workplace. Support the adoption of smoking cessation programs and encourage your employer to provide help to coworkers committed to quitting tobacco. Just remind him that smokers are absent from 50% more than non-smoking employees; that health and fire insurance premiums can be 35% lower for smoke-free businesses; and disability and early retirement payments can be cut by up to 75% as smoking contributes to nearly three fourths of early retirements.
5. Obtain and maintain a healthy weight for healthy blood pressure levels. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major factor for nearly half of all heart disease and stroke combined.
6. Know your numbers. Check and track important health indicators like blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Talk with your healthcare provider about developing a heart-healthy plan tailored to your particular health needs.
7. Limit your alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol intake can cause you to pack on pounds and raise your blood pressure.
8. Make work a workout. If you live close enough, cycle or walk to work. Take the stairs and go for a brisk walk during your lunch break. Remember to stretch for a few minutes during your regular breaks.
9. Learn to de-stress. Excessive stress can contribute to or exacerbate risk factors to stroke and coronary disease.
10. Be proactive. If you experience symptoms associated with coronary disease or have a lifestyle that includes risk factors for stroke or heart attack, make an appointment or ask your doctor to refer you to Precision Imaging Centers for a cardiac CT Angiograpy, cardiac MRI or PET/CT scan.

Our state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities are second to none in Northeast Florida and have been featured in medical segments of multiple national TV programs including Oprah and Good Morning America. Combined results from our Cardiac CTA, cardiac MRI and PET/CT scans give your physician a full assessment of your heart’s health allowing for the most targeted and effective treatment possible. To learn more, visit Precision Imaging Center’s website or call 904-996-8100.

Cheerleading is the #1 cause of high school injuries today.

Back to school can be fun for students – and a bit dangerous for student athletes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 300,000 student athletes suffer concussions from school sports activities each year. Most require only observational testing, but others can require an MRI or CT. Jacksonville students luckily have Precision Imaging Centers close by.

A concussion happens when the brain hits the skull as the result of a hard hit on the football field or a fall in a failed cheerleading stunt. Two types of concussions exist: simple concussions and complex concussions. Both involve similar symptoms and signs including nausea, headache, short-term memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, slurred speech, impaired balance and aggressive or over-emotional personality changes, among others. The difference is that an athlete with a simple concussion will recover within seven to ten days and primarily will require rest. Complex concussions, however, can take several weeks or months to heal. Victims can have emotional outbursts or recurrences of symptoms associated with exercise.

Unfortunately, students, coaches and parents often fail to recognize symptoms of a concussion, particularly a complex concussion in a youth athlete who walks off the field and initially seems okay. That’s why it’s important for parents, coaches and fellow athletes to keep a close eye on a student who takes a hard lick. It’s important to know that female victims often have a tougher time recovering from concussions than do male victims and that cheerleading – not football or wresting as many might think -is the top cause of high school sports injuries today.

If you believe your child may have suffered a complex concussion, insist that your doctor order an MRI or CT at Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers. We have top-notch physicians and diagnostic specialists and are conveniently located near the St. Johns Town Center. Our evening and weekend hours accommodate the busiest school and work schedules and our prices for scans and imaging exams including MRIs and CTs for Jacksonville area patients often are 80%-90% lower than hospital charges for similar exams. To find out more about scheduling your child for an MRI or CT, call Jacksonville’s top imaging professionals at 904-996-8100 or contact us via our convenient online email form today.

For harried, pressure-driven executives, health is more than a good idea – it’s an imperative for a competitive edge. That’s why Precision Imaging Centers offers comprehensive executive screening including MRI, Cat scans, PET/CT scans and Digital Ultrasound imaging to check for health issues common among management professionals.

Keep your company's competitive edge sharp by keeping your employees healthy with comprehensive executive screening services by Precision Imaging Centers.

Gone undiagnosed and untreated, health problems that are typical among those living in the C-suite can end up costing a company thousands in lost productivity when a manager or high-producing executive falls ill. Regular diagnostic screenings tailored specifically for executives and managers can detect existing and potential heart, respiratory and neurological problems caused or exacerbated by high-stress lifestyles. Working in tandem with a patient’s physician, Precision Imaging Centers offers customized comprehensive screening examinations based upon the patient’s medical and family history, lifestyle diet and career demands. Our cutting-edge technologies and highly experienced radiologists mean more definitive results, allowing for more effective health management.

In most cases, Precision Imaging Centers can save corporate clients up to 50% compared to average hospital charges for imaging services. Plus, mindful of the busy executive’s tight schedule, we offer early morning and late evening hours (7 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays) and weekend appointments (Saturdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).  And physicians have access to secure, 24/7 online results and medical records.

Keep your company’s competitive edge sharp by keeping your executives healthy. Make an appointment at Precision Imaging Centers in Jacksonville’s Southside today.

Cats Scans (CT or Computed Tomography) uses thin X-ray imaging to reproduce cross-sections of the interior of the human body. Precision Imaging Centers’ 64 slice CT/PET equipment gathers 64 slices simultaneously greatly improving the quality of the image and the reproduced result, while at the same time minimizing radiation exposure and length of the scan.