Understanding Banner Imaging and What This Guide Covers
Banner Imaging refers to the diagnostic imaging services available through Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States. Banner operates hundreds of facilities across multiple states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Wyoming. Imaging services include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasounds, mammograms, and other diagnostic tools that help doctors see inside your body to diagnose conditions.
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This guide provides information about how to schedule Banner Imaging appointments. It explains what you should know before making an appointment, what to expect during the process, and how different types of imaging appointments work. The guide is designed to help you understand the steps involved and prepare for your visit.
Banner Imaging appointments are ordered by your doctor or healthcare provider. Your provider will determine what type of imaging you need based on your medical situation. Once your provider sends an order for imaging, you typically need to contact Banner Imaging directly to schedule a specific time and location that works for you.
This information applies to routine imaging appointments. Emergency imaging needs are handled differently through hospital emergency departments. If you need imaging as part of an urgent medical situation, go to the nearest emergency room rather than scheduling an appointment through standard channels.
Practical Takeaway: Before scheduling, confirm that you have a doctor's order for imaging. Banner Imaging appointments require a provider's referral, so you cannot schedule imaging services on your own without medical direction from a healthcare provider.
How to Schedule Your Banner Imaging Appointment
Scheduling a Banner Imaging appointment involves several steps that typically take just a few minutes. The most common way to schedule is by phone. You can call Banner Imaging's scheduling line, and a representative will help you find an available appointment time. Phone scheduling allows you to ask questions and get immediate confirmation of your appointment details.
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When you call to schedule, have the following information ready: your doctor's name, the type of imaging your doctor ordered, your insurance information, and your availability for appointments. The scheduler will ask you basic questions about your medical history and whether you have any metal implants or other items that might affect certain imaging procedures. Be honest and detailed when answering these questions, as the information helps staff prepare for your appointment and ensure your safety.
Many Banner locations also allow online scheduling through their website or patient portal. If you have a Banner patient account, you may be able to log in and view available appointment times at locations near you. Online scheduling offers convenience and allows you to book at times that fit your schedule without waiting on the phone.
The appointment confirmation process typically includes details about where you need to go, what time to arrive, and any preparation instructions specific to your imaging type. Write down these details or save them in your phone. Most facilities ask you to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to allow for check-in.
Practical Takeaway: Keep your doctor's order information and insurance card handy when scheduling. This information speeds up the booking process and helps ensure your appointment is set up correctly with accurate billing information.
Preparation Requirements Before Your Imaging Appointment
Different types of imaging have different preparation requirements. Understanding what to do before your appointment helps the procedure go smoothly and produces better results. Some appointments require no preparation at all, while others require specific steps you must follow beforehand.
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For CT scans and certain X-rays, you might need to fast (not eat or drink) for a few hours before your appointment. Your doctor's order or the scheduling representative will tell you if fasting is necessary. If fasting is required, you will typically be told to stop eating and drinking at a specific time before your appointment.
MRI scans require special attention to metal objects. Before an MRI, you must remove all metal items, including jewelry, watches, hairpins, hearing aids, and eyeglasses. Metal objects can interfere with MRI machines and potentially cause injury. The MRI technician will ask you detailed questions about any metal implants in your body, such as pacemakers, metal plates, screws from surgery, or shrapnel. Be completely honest about any metal in your body, as some types make MRI unsafe.
Ultrasound appointments often require you to have a full bladder. For abdominal ultrasounds, you may be instructed to drink water and not urinate for a period before your appointment. This positioning of fluid helps the ultrasound images show internal structures more clearly.
Mammogram appointments should be scheduled during the week after your period starts, when breast tissue is usually less tender. Avoid wearing deodorant, antiperspirant, or lotion on the day of your appointment, as these products can interfere with mammogram images.
Practical Takeaway: Call your imaging facility or review your appointment confirmation paperwork for specific preparation instructions. Following preparation guidelines improves image quality and helps your doctor see what needs to be seen.
What to Bring and Insurance Information
Bringing the correct documents to your appointment prevents delays and billing problems. At minimum, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. This confirms your identity and ensures the facility is imaging the correct patient. Bring your current insurance card, as the facility will need your insurance information for billing purposes. If you have multiple insurance cards, bring them all.
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Bring your appointment confirmation details if you received them in writing or by email. You can show these to the check-in staff to speed up the registration process. If you have previous imaging records from other facilities that relate to your current appointment, ask if you should bring those records or if your doctor can transfer them electronically to Banner Imaging.
Banner Imaging is part of a large health system, which means imaging results can often be shared electronically with your doctor's office. However, if you want a copy of your images on a CD or USB drive, bring a blank disc or USB drive with you. Many facilities can provide your images on a disc at no cost or for a small fee. This is useful if you want to show the images to another doctor or keep a personal copy.
Regarding costs, imaging procedures have different price ranges depending on the type. An X-ray typically costs less than a CT scan, which costs less than an MRI. If you have insurance, your insurance company pays a portion based on your plan, and you may owe a copay or coinsurance amount. If you do not have insurance, ask about Banner's financial assistance programs or payment plans, which may be available depending on your household income.
Before your appointment, you can call Banner's billing department to learn what your out-of-pocket cost might be. Providing your insurance information allows them to give you an estimate based on your specific plan and the type of imaging ordered.
Practical Takeaway: Call your insurance company before your appointment to understand what portion of imaging costs you will pay. This prevents billing surprises and helps you plan financially for your healthcare expenses.
Types of Imaging and What Each Procedure Involves
Banner Imaging offers multiple types of diagnostic imaging procedures, each serving different purposes. Understanding what each involves helps you prepare mentally and physically for your appointment.
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X-rays are the most basic imaging type. The procedure involves standing or lying in front of an X-ray machine while it takes pictures. X-rays use small amounts of radiation to create images of bones and some internal structures. The procedure takes only a few minutes. You will be asked to stay still while the image is taken to prevent blurring. X-rays are commonly used to check for broken bones, pneumonia, and other lung conditions.
CT scans, also called CAT scans, take multiple X-ray images from different angles and use computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional pictures. You lie on a table that slides into a large circular machine. The procedure is painless but takes longer than a standard X-ray, typically 10-30 minutes depending on what area is being scanned. Some CT scans require injection of contrast dye, which may make you feel warm or flushed. CT scans can show organs, tumors, injuries, and other internal problems in greater detail than X-rays.
MRI scans use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves instead of radiation. You lie on a table inside a large tube-shaped machine. MRI machines are quite loud, making sounds like knocking or humming. The procedure takes longer than CT scans, often 20-60 minutes. MRI provides very detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and the brain. Unlike CT and X-rays, M