FAQ

A- There are designated parking spaces in the Centre récréatif St-Joseph parking lot. View a map to our parking here.

A- Yes. You need to provide us with a requisition that documents the requested examination(s) before we can begin the ultrasound. This form has to be completed and signed by a doctor. You can bring it with you or your doctor can send it to us in advance. No ultrasound can be performed without this completed requisition

A- The time it takes to get an appointment varies but, usually, it is possible to get an appointment in less than 7 business days.

A- Ultrasound results are sent to the doctor who completed the request in as little as 48 business hours after the ultrasound.

A- Yes, of course. We can provide a copy of the report written by our radiologist as soon as it’s ready, alothough we are not able to discuss or offer any advice regardinng diagnosis. You may address your concerns to your physician.

A- No, the sonographer cannot give the diagnosis or comment about your health condition. Only a doctor is allowed to do so.

A- The doctor who receives the ultrasound report is responsible for providing adequate follow-up (if required). Usually, if no further examination is suggested or if no follow-up is necessary, your doctor won’t contact you when he or she receives the ultrasound report. However, do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you are concerned.

A-    Of course! Simply tell us to which doctors you would like us to send them to.

A-    According to the Québec Health Insurance Act, ultrasound examinations which are performed in a private clinic are covered by the plan if the examination itself or the final report is done by an affiliated radiologist. In our clinic, some examination reports are written by affiliated radiologists, and others are written by non-affiliated radiologists and physicians with different specialities such as gynecologists/obstetricians and cardiologists. Therefore, depending on the type of ultrasound that was prescribed to you, your examination may or may not be covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan. If you are not covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan, you will be required to pay the fees for the examination on the day of your appointment.  spoiler] A-    If you or your examination are not covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan, costs vary between $120.00 and $320.00. depending on the type of ultrasound that was prescribed to you.

A-    According to the Québec Health Insurance Act, ultrasound examinations which are performed in a private clinic are covered by the plan if the examination itself or the final report is done by an affiliated radiologist. In our clinic, some examination reports are written by affiliated radiologists, and others are written by non-affiliated radiologists and physicians with different specialities such as gynecologists/obstetricians and cardiologists. Therefore, depending on the type of ultrasound that was prescribed to you, your examination may or may not be covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan. If you are not covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan, you will be required to pay the fees for the examination on the day of your appointment.

A-    In several cases, yes, as long as you or the examination that was prescribed to you are not covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan. Ask your insurance company if your insurance policy covers ultrasound examinations.

A-    Yes, in the vast majority of cases. We sometimes refuse to perform an ultrasound on a child, when a case is exceptional and requires the expertise of a pediatric radiologist.

A-    Yes, absolutely, if your examination was not covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan nor your private insurance plan.

A-    If your examination is not covered by the Québec Health Insurance plan, you are required to pay the fees in full at the time of your appointment. We will give you an official receipt that you can use to claim certain fees covered by your insurance. We suggest that you check with your insurance company to find out what the process is and what documents you need.

A-    No. There are no risks associated with ultrasound examinations. Machines are calibrated and inspected to ensure ultrasound waves are used at the security levels approved by Health Canada. This medical imaging technique is so safe that it is used in infertility programs and for tracking the baby’s developing during pregnancy.

A-    Of course! You can be accompanied during your ultrasound if you wish, but a maximum of four people can enter the examination room.

A-    Yes, children are welcome! However, an ultrasound can take time and younger children often get bored. To make your experience more pleasant, we suggest that you ask another adult to take care of the children. This person will be able to entertain them during your ultrasound or leave the room if necessary. In the case of a pregnancy ultrasound, the adult in charge of the children should be someone else than your spouse so that he or she can attend the ultrasound without being interrupted.

A-    No, Level 2 obstetrical ultrasounds are performed in a hospital with a specialist present.

A-    Hysterosalpingography is an X-ray procedure, while sonohysterography is a technique in which a contrast agent is injected (i.e. a saline solution), gradually filling the uterus to determine, in particular, if fallopian tubes are blocked. The difference between sonohysterography and hysterosalpingography is the medical imaging technique used to observe the saline solution in the uterus. Sonohysterography is an ultrasound procedure (using ultrasound waves). Sonohysterography is considered safer because it eliminates the risks associated with radiation use.

A-    Your ultrasound will be done by a certified and specialized sonographer (professionals allowed to work without a doctor present).

A-    Usually, only certified sonographers work at the clinic (professionals allowed to work without a doctor present). During specific examinations, a radiologist or gynecologist is present.

A-    An ultrasound can take from 15 to 60 minutes. 

A-    We do not recommend having a 3D ultrasound before the third trimester, because the fetus does not look good, which can cause unnecessary concerns for parents. 

A-    We recommend having a 3D/4D ultrasound between week 28 and 32 weeks of gestation to get good pictures and have a pleasant experience. Before the third trimester, the fetus does not look good, which can cause unnecessary concerns for parents. At 28 weeks, your baby appears much like he or she will look like at birth.  It is therefore nice to look at your baby, see his or her features and observe his or her movements and facial expressions. Until 32 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus still has space in the uterus to move around. It is therefore possible to produce really nice images. After 32 weeks, the fetus is big and hard to see.

A-    The baby’s sex can most often be determined with certainty from 18 weeks of pregnancy and onwards. We only reveal the sex of the baby to parents who wish to know and only from this moment onward.

A-    An ultrasound, also called ultrasound scan or echography, is a method of looking at internal organs using a transducer that emits high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound waves). Reflected sound waves are recorded and produce real-time images. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in X-rays). It is safe and allows examining many internal organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, thyroid gland, heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, etc. It is also used to display images of a pregnant woman’s fetus. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show movement of the body’s internal organs and tissues, for example blood flow and heart valve functioning.

A-    Yes. Ultrasound waves are high-frequency sound waves used to produce ultrasound images.

A-     Absolutely! We accept all requisition forms as long as they are completed and signed by a doctor.

A-    Prenatal screening helps to determine chromosomal abnormality risks and a dozen other fetal malformations. Screening is performed in three parts: an ultrasound to measure the nuchal translucency between 11 weeks + 4 days and 13 weeks + 6 days, a blood sample between 11 weeks + 4 days and 13 weeks + 6 days (usually the same day as the ultrasound), and another blood sample between 15 weeks + 3 days and 18 weeks + 6 days. Analysis of these three examinations’ results allows to determine abnormality risks and to proceed, if necessary, to more advanced tests for further investigation. IPS is offered to most parents, but it is not mandatory. Parents can first discuss it with their doctor or midwife, then between them, to decide if they wish or not to have IPS. Click here for more details on the nuchal translucency ultrasound.

A-     We work hard to honour appointment times and respect patients’ schedules. The duration of an ultrasound can however vary from one person to another. We believe that each case, including yours, deserves special attention. This is why the sonographer will take whatever time necessary to perform your examination. If the time needed is longer than usual, there could be delays. Unfortunately, we cannot predict if these delays will happen on the day of your appointment.

R-   Yes. It is located at 394 Blvd. Maloney West, suite 104-B.  We can perform most of our ultrasound examinations there. To book an appointment a our Gatineau location, patient must call us at our main office in Hull at 819.771.1884.