The doctors at HALO Diagnostics (formerly Desert Medical Imaging) are all radiologists who are board-certified in diagnostic radiology, and each of them is also certified in a sub-specialty of radiology. A radiologist is a medical doctor who has been trained to use imaging technology like x-rays, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), PET/CT and ultrasound to diagnose medical conditions, and to treat and manage patients’ health using those technologies.
A Diagnostic Radiologist with a sub-specialty has not only completed five years of medical school with an internship and residency in radiology, but also an additional one- to two-year fellowship in a sub-specialty like Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology, or Pain Medicine. Beyond these sub-specialties recognized by the American Board of Radiology, Diagnostic Radiologists may study even more specific fields, or combine other types of medical practice with radiology, for example: Cardiac Imaging, CT Colonography, or Orthopedic and Sports medicine.
Most people already know that radiologists use medical imaging to get a detailed look at the interior of a patient’s body, sometimes to screen for potential health problems, other times, to identify the source of symptoms a patient may be experiencing. As imaging technology has advanced and radiologists have worked to develop new ways to use that technology, the number of ways a radiologist can help a patient has grown exponentially. Medical imaging is no longer just for screening and diagnosis; radiologists now combine medical imaging with other techniques to offer treatment and management of health conditions, as well.
In addition to providing you and your doctor with precise information about your health and any injuries or diseases, a specialized radiologist can assist with lasting relief from conditions like chronic pain by using CT, MRI, or Ultrasound imaging to guide injections to the specific source of the pain.
They can also provide safer diagnosis and investigation with procedures like Virtual Colonoscopy, which does not require general anesthesia and offers significantly reduced risk of perforating the patient’s bowel, because it eliminates the need to run an endoscope through the bowel. It also provides a more detailed and accurate picture than conventional colonoscopy, in most cases.
Biopsies are another area where our patients benefit greatly from the skill of a specialized radiologist because an image-guided biopsy gives the detailed information their doctors need; yet it is safer and less painful than a surgical biopsy or exploratory surgery.
For patients who have been diagnosed with certain types of tumors or other growths, Focal Laser Ablation offers an outpatient procedure to ablat the growth without general anesthesia or open surgery. The Interventional Radiologists at HALO Diagnostics (formerly Desert Medical Imaging) were the first in the world to perform this procedure in an outpatient center, and our patients have enjoyed excellent results with far less recovery time and expense.
From treatment of prostate cancer to cardiac procedures, evaluation of stent placement integrity, and brain disorders and trauma, and pain management, the specialized radiologists at HALO Diagnostics provide our patients with personalized care, education, and safest treatment options for a best-outcome recovery.
