COVID-19 Safety Precautions and Sterilization

To Our Guilford Community

ALL GUILFORD RADIOLOGY STAFF HAVE BEEN FULLY IMMUNIZED AGAINST THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

Now more than ever, the safety of our patients, community and staff is our top priority. Our staff is fully trained in Covid-19 screening, safety precautions and sterilization technique. We remained committed to our referring providers and patients and have been open throughout the pandemic, while continuing to maintain a clean safe facility. Trust the staff at Guilford Radiology to take care of you and your family’s medical imaging needs in a patient friendly, convenient outpatient environment for the safest, most comfortable exam possible.

Our facility is clean, Safety is our primary concern

Our entire office gets a complete deep cleaning nightly.
Exam rooms and equipment are thoroughly disinfected after each patient, from mammography paddles to the CT & MRI bores, to the exam tables, counters, and areas of patient contact.
We are maintaining CDC and the state of CT guidelines. All staff and patients are required to wear appropriate face masks and staff wear other required PPE. Patients without an acceptable mask will be provided one.

Covid Safety Patient Screening Form

New patient flow in place ensures no contact with other patients

All paperwork can be completed prior to your exam, forms are available on our website.
Patients can choose to checkin in our waiting room or wait in their car.
If you choose to check-in in our lobby, comie in and stop at the front desk, please arrive at your requested time and enter our comfortable clean reception area with your ID, insurance card and order (if applicable) in hand.
If you prefer to wait in your car, when you arrive for your appointment, please call our office (203-453-5123) from your car.
- You will be instructed when to enter where a technologist will greet you at the opened door.
After your exam the technologist will escort you out of the office.
We have staggered patient exam times to avoid congestion and reduce any unnecessary potential exposure.
Please do not bring anyone with you to your exam as we are trying to reduce traffic in our office, special accommodations can be made as needed.

Guilford Radiology is committed to your health and safety.

Kameron Shahid, MD -- Guilford Radiology President
Michael Johnson, MD -- Covid-19 Safety Officer
Sharynn Gendron -- Office Manager

Barium Swallow or Esophagram Quick Reference Guide for Physicians

The esophagram or barium swallow is a test whereby a patient is instructed to drink a barium sulfate compound that enables the radiologist to study the function and appearance of the esophagus and assess the swallowing process.

Indications

The esophagram can assess symptoms of painful or difficult swallowing, bloodstained vomit, abdominal pain and weight loss. The radiologist is able to detect narrowing or irritation of the esophagus, blockages, hiatal hernia, or abnormally enlarged veins that may cause bleeding in the esophagus, ulcers, polyps, or tumor.

Contraindications

Pregnancy. known or suspected esophageal perforation.

Patient Preparation

Eat/drink nothing by mouth on the day of the exam

CPT code

74220

Ready to Order a Test for your Patient?

Download Requisition Form Here

General Information

What is a barium swallow (or esophogram)?

A barium swallow is an x-ray examination of the pharynx and esophagus using fluoroscopy and an orally ingested contrast material called barium.

Fluoroscopy makes it possible to see internal organs in motion. When coated with barium, the radiologist is able to view and assess the anatomy and function of the pharynx and esophagus. In addition to drinking barium, some patients are also given baking-soda crystals (similar to Alka-Seltzer) to further improve the images. This procedure is called an air-contrast or double-contrast upper GI.

An upper GI examination helps evaluate digestive function and can detect:

ulcers
tumors
inflammation of the esophagus
hiatal hernias
scarring
blockages
abnormalities of the muscular wall of GI tissues

The procedure is also used to help diagnose the cause of symptoms such as:

difficulty swallowing
chest and abdominal pain
reflux (a backward flow of partially digested food and digestive juices)
unexplained vomiting
severe indigestion
blood in the stool (indicating internal GI bleeding)

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Your patient may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes and to wear a gown during the exam. Your patient may also be asked to remove jewelry, dentures, eye glasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images.

How is the procedure performed?

As the patient drinks the liquid barium, which resembles a light-colored milkshake, the radiologist will watch the barium pass through the patient's digestive tract on a fluoroscope, a device that projects radiographic images in a movie-like sequence onto a monitor. The exam table will be positioned at different angles and the patient's abdomen may be compressed to help spread the barium. Once the GI tract is adequately coated with the barium, still x-ray images will be taken and stored for further review.

Children usually drink barium contrast material without any objection. If a child will not drink the contrast, the radiologist may need to pass a small tube into the stomach to complete the examination.

The patient will be asked to hold very still and may be asked to keep from breathing for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image.

For a double-contrast upper GI series, the patient will swallow baking-soda crystals that create gas in the stomach while additional x-rays are taken.

When the examination is complete, your patient will be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained.

This exam is usually completed within 20 minutes.

What will the patient experience during and after the procedure?

After the examination, your patient can resume a regular diet and take orally administered medications.

The barium may color your stools gray or white for 48 to 72 hours after the procedure. Sometimes the barium can cause temporary constipation, which is usually treated by an over-the-counter laxative. Drinking large quantities of fluids for several days following the test can also help. If your patient is unable to have a bowel movement or if his/her bowel habits undergo any significant changes following the exam, the patient should contact you.