how long do you keep x-rays and how do you store them????
Overall Rating: 1 vote
-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
I would take them to your doctor and ask them to store/archive them. If they refuse I would get rid of them after six months or so, any longer and the physician is going to want updated ones. If they want to compare them to older films they can get copies from the imaging center, they have to keep them for seven years or longer, depending on state law.
If you do decide to keep them, the best way is to store them in the envelope they came with and away from heat, light, and high humidity. Even that's only a big concern if you plan to keep them for an extended period of time, like decades.
All this is from the 2 years in college that I worked as a receptionist at an MRI clinic. We could lookup and copy any scan from the last 5 years in the computer and print it out within the hour onto films. There was a $25 charge, but not a big deal.
Posted 1 year ago # -
As a Radiologic Technologist who works in X-ray and CT, AND as a patient with chronic health issues, including scoliosis (mid- and lower-back spinal curvature) and C-spine (neck) degenerative joint disease, I'd like to offer my thoughts on this subject.
I would keep the most current set of images on any body part. For example, if you've had x-rays done on a joint, limb, etc. several times over the years, toss the older ones & keep only the newest. If the medical facility where the images were taken was computerized at that time, they can put them on a CD for you to minimize storage space.
I recommend having your own copies of your images because: 1) you can readily take them with you if you move and/or change doctors, 2) they provide you with a back-up if something happens to the images your doctor has (remember, humans make mistakes, things get misplaced, computer systems fail, and even medical facilities catch fire, flood, get hit by tornadoes and hurricanes, etc.), and 3) YOU know where your images are and can quickly get your hands on them whereas, depending on a medical facility's available storage space, they may send your images to "outer Mongolia" for storage anywhere from a few months to a couple of years after they're taken. In the event of an accident/injury or acute medical condition, valuable time (days, even weeks) could be lost while they retrieve your images.
Yes, if you go to a doctor or hospital for medical treatment, they will most likely do an imaging exam at that time to assess your current condition. However, having previous images for comparison can be invaluable to the doctor in his/her diagnosis and treatment of your problem. And, on occasion, new images may not be necessary if old ones are available, thus reducing your cost, radiation exposure, etc.
And, personally, I have one more reason for keeping my x-rays: When I'm having a REALLY bad day--hurting like crazy and/or frustrated as heck because I can't physically accomplish what I'd like to--I can take them out, hold them up to a light, take a good look and remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to function as well as I do, considering what God, Mother Nature, age, heredity, and pure bad luck have given me to work with! :-)
Posted 1 year ago #
Reply
You must log in to post. If you do not already have an account, you can register here.
