How eMedical Sends Your Immigration X-Ray Results From Ajax

eMedical is the secure online system used to record and submit immigration medical exam information for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you have had, or are about to have, an immigration chest X-ray at Rossland Diagnostic Clinic in Ajax, it is the route your images and results take after you leave the X-ray room.

Many applicants are understandably curious about that journey. You stand in front of the imaging plate, hold your breath for a moment, and then walk out with nothing in your hands. Where did your X-ray go? Who sees it? What should you do next?

This article explains, in general terms, how the process works from the imaging clinic’s side. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it does not cover timelines, fees or decisions on applications. For anything about your own case, the right people to ask are your panel physician and IRCC.

Why a digital, online system is used

An immigration medical exam brings together information from several sources: the panel physician’s examination, any laboratory tests, and imaging such as a chest X-ray. Those parts may be completed in different places on different days.

A secure electronic system helps bring them together in one case. Instead of applicants carrying envelopes of films from one office to another, or documents being mailed, information can be submitted directly by the facilities involved. This tends to reduce the risk of paperwork going missing and means you are not responsible for physically delivering your X-ray.

The journey of your chest X-ray, in four stages

Stage one: identity and paperwork

Everything starts at the front desk. When you arrive for an immigration chest X-ray, our staff will ask for your identification and the paperwork from your panel physician. This step matters more than it might seem. Your images need to be attached to the correct case, so your identity and details are checked carefully.

That is why it is so important to bring valid identification and every page your panel physician gave you. If anything is missing, the upload may not be possible until it is sorted out.

Stage two: taking the images

A technologist positions you for the chest X-ray, usually standing, and asks you to hold your breath briefly while the image is taken. More than one view may be needed. The exam itself is quick and uses a low dose of radiation.

Our clinic uses digital X-ray equipment. Digital images are created electronically rather than on film, which is what allows them to be submitted securely online.

Stage three: secure upload through eMedical

After your X-ray, the images and related information are uploaded through the eMedical portal to your case. The connection is secure, and access is limited to authorized users involved in immigration medical exams.

You do not need to do anything for this part. You will not be asked to download, email or deliver your X-ray yourself.

Stage four: the rest of your exam continues

Once the X-ray portion is submitted, it becomes part of your overall immigration medical exam. What happens next depends on your case and is handled by your panel physician and IRCC. The imaging clinic does not make decisions about immigration medical exams and does not have visibility into the outcome of your application.

If an image needs to be retaken

Occasionally an image may need to be retaken, for example if a person moved during the exposure or a necklace was left on. If a retake is needed while you are still at the clinic, the technologist will let you know and guide you through it.

If at a later stage your panel physician or IRCC needs further information, they will let you know what is required. Please follow their instructions, and contact the clinic if you are asked to return for imaging.

What “results” means here

The word “results” can be a source of confusion. When people hear it, they often picture a letter or a phone call saying whether everything is fine. In the context of an immigration chest X-ray, it is more useful to think of results as the images and related information that become part of your medical exam file.

How that information is reviewed, and how it fits with the rest of your examination, is part of the IRCC medical exam process. It is not something the imaging clinic in Ajax decides or communicates to you. That is why our staff will usually direct questions such as “Was my X-ray okay?” or “Is everything complete?” to your panel physician, who can see the bigger picture.

This is not about being unhelpful. Immigration medical exams follow specific rules, and accurate answers can only come from the people responsible for your file. A guess from the front desk, however well meant, could cause unnecessary worry or false reassurance.

What eMedical is not

It is easy to assume that because the system is online, everything inside it is visible to everyone, or that results arrive instantly. A few clarifications help.

• It is not a portal for applicants to view X-rays. eMedical is a system for authorized facilities and physicians, not a place where you log in to look at your images.
• It does not replace your panel physician. Your panel physician remains your main point of contact for the medical exam.
• It does not give the imaging clinic access to your application. We submit our part of the exam. We do not see or manage the rest of your file.
• It does not tell us your timeline. We cannot predict when your exam or application will move forward.

Privacy and your personal health information

Many people feel uneasy about personal health information travelling online, and that is a reasonable concern. Medical information should be handled carefully at every step.

At our clinic, staff confirm your identity before your exam, images are captured on digital equipment, and they are submitted through the secure eMedical system rather than by email or on loose discs. If you have specific questions about how your information is used by IRCC, those are best directed to IRCC.

If you have questions about how the clinic handles your information, you are welcome to ask us at the front desk or by phone.

Practical tips from the imaging side

A few small things make a real difference to how smoothly the X-ray and upload go.

1. Check your name. Make sure the spelling on your identification and on your panel physician’s paperwork matches. Inconsistencies can cause delays at the front desk.
2. Bring everything. Keep all of your immigration medical paperwork together in one folder.
3. Dress simply. Wear a top without metal fasteners, sequins or underwire, and leave jewellery at home if you can. You may be asked to change into a gown.
4. Mention pregnancy. If you are or might be pregnant, tell the technologist before the exam, and talk to your panel physician about how to proceed.
5. Ask about availability before you come. Call 905-426-3111 to check, especially if you are travelling from elsewhere in Durham Region.
6. Keep your own records. Note the date of your X-ray and the name of the clinic in case your panel physician asks.

Who to contact, and about what

Knowing who handles each question saves time and frustration.

We understand that waiting during an immigration process can feel stressful. We wish we could answer every question, but giving information about your case that we cannot verify would not help you. Pointing you to the people who can see your full file is the most useful thing we can do.

For families settling in Ajax

Many people who complete an immigration medical exam are already living in, or moving to, communities like Ajax, Pickering and Whitby. Once you are settled, you may need local imaging for everyday health care, such as walk-in digital X-ray or ultrasound requested by a family doctor. Our patient information page is a good starting point for what to expect at future visits.

Rossland Diagnostic Clinic is at Unit 102, 300 Rossland Road East, Ajax, with free parking and ground-floor access. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 3:30pm.

Ready for your immigration chest X-ray

If your panel physician has asked you to complete a chest X-ray, our team is here to help with the imaging and secure eMedical submission. Visit our immigration chest X-ray page for an overview, call 905-426-3111, or request an appointment. Please bring your identification and your panel physician’s paperwork.