Where can I get an X-ray in Ottawa?
X-ray services are available at our main laboratory in Nepean at Bells Corners, 2006 Robertson Road, and at our Smyth Road centre, 1929 Russell Road, close to the General campus. At both sites X-ray runs Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed from noon to 1:00 PM, by appointment only; call 613-789-4242 or the centre directly to book. Ultrasound is also offered at Bells Corners, likewise by appointment.
Bells Corners is our most fully equipped site, with blood collection, X-ray, ECG and ultrasound under one roof and free parking, which makes it a practical choice when a requisition lists more than one test. More detail on our imaging services is on the X-ray and imaging page.
Do I need a requisition for an X-ray?
As with laboratory tests, an X-ray must be ordered by an authorized practitioner, typically a physician or nurse practitioner. The requisition tells the technologist exactly which body part to image and which views to take, so please bring it with you; we cannot perform an X-ray from a verbal description. If you have lost the form, ask the ordering clinic to fax a copy to the centre you plan to visit. Medically necessary diagnostic tests ordered by a physician are insured services in Ontario, as outlined on ontario.ca, so bring your valid Ontario health card. X-rays requested by an employer or insurer are third-party services and are not covered by OHIP.
How do I prepare for an X-ray?
Most plain X-rays need no preparation, and there is no fasting. A few things help the visit go quickly:
- Wear loose clothing without metal: zips, underwire, belts, and jewellery near the area being imaged usually have to come off, and you may be given a gown
- Tell the technologist if there is any chance you are pregnant; they will discuss the options with you and your provider before proceeding
- Mention any implants, pacemakers or metalwork in the area being imaged
- Bring a list of medications only if your requisition asks for it; it is not needed for a routine X-ray
What happens during the X-ray?
- You check in at reception with your requisition and health card, as you would for bloodwork.
- The technologist takes you to the X-ray room, explains the views required and positions you standing, sitting or lying down.
- You hold still, and sometimes hold your breath, for each exposure. Each image takes a fraction of a second; a typical study of two or three views is finished within a few minutes.
- The technologist checks the images for quality before you leave. They cannot tell you what the images show; that is the radiologist's role.
Digital X-ray uses a low dose of radiation, and the amount for a single study is small. If you have questions about radiation exposure, especially for a child, the technologist can explain what to expect, and your physician can discuss whether the test is needed.
What if I have had the same area imaged before?
Radiologists compare new images with old ones whenever they can; a shadow on a chest X-ray that has been there unchanged for five years is read very differently from a new one. If the same body part was X-rayed elsewhere in the past, tell the technologist where and roughly when, and bring the report if you have it. Ontario imaging facilities can often retrieve prior studies through shared systems, but a date and a location from you makes that quicker and helps the radiologist give your provider a more useful report.
How do I get my X-ray results?
Your images are read by a radiologist, and the report is sent to the practitioner who ordered the study, who reviews it with you. Health-care providers can also access radiology images through Bio-Test's provider portal. Because the report goes to your provider rather than to you directly, book a follow-up or ask how your clinic will contact you. If a fracture or other finding needs prompt attention, the radiologist communicates directly with the ordering provider.
When should I go to the hospital instead?
Community imaging is for patients who are stable and have been assessed by a provider. If you have had a serious injury, a suspected broken bone with obvious deformity, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, go to an emergency department or call 911; hospital teams can image and treat you in one place. Children can be X-rayed at our centres with a requisition, but for infants and for anxious young children your physician may prefer a children's hospital setting. When in doubt, ask the practitioner who is ordering the test where they would like it done.
How do I book an X-ray in Ottawa?
With a requisition in hand, call 613-789-4242 (toll-free 1-800-409-1942) to book an X-ray at Bells Corners or Smyth between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM on a weekday, avoiding the noon hour, and bring your health card to the appointment. If bloodwork is on the same form, both can usually be handled in the same visit; blood collection stays walk-in, or you can book a collection time online. Hours and directions for every site are on our locations page, and our preparation page explains fasting if any blood test on your requisition needs it. For how quickly results reach your provider, see how long results take in Ontario.