Medical Imaging for Newcomers to Ajax

Moving to a new country comes with a long list of firsts: a first apartment, a first winter, a first trip to the grocery store where every brand looks unfamiliar. Health care belongs on that list too. If you have recently settled in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby or elsewhere in Durham Region, the way medical imaging is arranged here may be quite different from what you knew back home.

Before going into the details, here is a short checklist that captures the essentials:

• Most X-ray and ultrasound exams start with a request from a health-care provider.
• Reports usually go to that provider, who then discusses them with you.
• Questions about your health card belong with ServiceOntario.
• Questions about payment for a specific exam are best answered by calling the clinic directly.
• An immigration medical chest X-ray follows its own process, separate from everyday care.

The rest of this guide explains each of these points and offers practical tips for your first visit to Rossland Diagnostic Clinic.

How imaging usually fits into care here

In many places, people can walk into an imaging centre and ask for a scan. In Ontario, most diagnostic imaging works differently. A health-care provider, such as a family doctor, nurse practitioner, specialist or midwife, decides which test is appropriate and fills in a request form called a requisition. You then use that form to arrange the exam.

After the exam, the clinic sends a written report to the provider who requested it. That provider reviews the findings and talks to you about what they mean and what happens next.

We have written two detailed articles about these steps, so we will not repeat them here:

• Understanding your imaging requisition explains what is on the form and how to use it to book.
• How imaging results reach your doctor explains where the report goes and how to follow up.

If you remember only one thing from this section, let it be this: in most cases, the path to an imaging test starts with a conversation with a health-care provider.

Connecting with a health-care provider

Because a provider usually needs to request your exam, finding one is an important early step. Newcomers often use one or more of the following:

• A family doctor or nurse practitioner, who can look after your ongoing care
• A walk-in clinic, for concerns that come up before you have a regular provider
• A community health centre, where these are available in your area
• A specialist, if you are referred to one

The Government of Ontario provides information online about finding a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and settlement agencies in Durham Region can often point you towards local options. Because programs and rules change, we encourage you to check official government sources for the most up-to-date guidance.

When you do see a provider, it helps to bring a list of your current medications, any ongoing health conditions, and copies of past test results if you have them. More on that below.

Your health card and paying for exams

This is the area where newcomers have the most questions, and it is also the area where it matters most to get answers from the right place.

Health card questions: Whether you are eligible for an Ontario health card, when coverage starts, and how to apply are questions for ServiceOntario. Rules can depend on your individual circumstances, and they can change, so please check with ServiceOntario directly or with your provider rather than relying on general advice, including ours.

Payment questions: If you do not yet have a health card, or you are not sure whether a particular exam is covered for you, call the clinic at 905-426-3111 before your appointment. Our team can talk you through your options for your specific exam. It is much easier to sort this out on the phone ahead of time than at the front desk.

Private insurance: Some people have coverage through an employer, a school or a private plan. If that applies to you, keep your plan details handy and check with your insurer about what they cover.

Once you have an Ontario health card, bring it to every appointment. It is one of the standard items we ask patients to have with them.

The immigration chest X-ray is a different path

Many newcomers, and people who are still in the process of immigrating, first come to our clinic for an immigration chest X-ray. This exam is part of the medical examination required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and it works differently from everyday imaging:

• It is arranged as part of your immigration medical exam with a panel physician, not through a family doctor’s requisition.
• You bring your identification and the paperwork your panel physician gave you.
• Images are uploaded securely through the eMedical system.

We cannot give immigration advice, and questions about your application belong with your panel physician or IRCC. If you need this exam, our step-by-step immigration chest X-ray guide explains the process from the imaging side.

It is worth knowing that this X-ray serves the immigration process only. If you later develop a cough, an injury or another health concern, that is handled through your regular health-care provider, who can request any imaging you need.

Exams with a slightly different starting point

A few services work a little differently from the usual requisition route:

• Walk-in X-ray. Our general X-ray service does not use scheduled appointments. You come during opening hours, and the department may close once it reaches its daily capacity. Call ahead for live availability and to confirm what you need to bring.
• Screening mammography. Through the Ontario Breast Screening Program, people aged 40 to 74 can book a routine screening mammogram themselves without a referral. If you are new to Ontario, call the clinic to confirm whether you are eligible and what you will need.
• 3D/4D keepsake ultrasound. This is an elective session for expectant families and does not replace the diagnostic pregnancy scans your provider arranges. Call us for details.

Comfort, language and personal preferences

Medical appointments can feel stressful in a new language and an unfamiliar system. A few things that may help:

Bring a support person

You are welcome to bring a trusted adult who can help you understand instructions and fill in forms. Some people find this especially useful on their first visit. If you would like to ask about any other language support, call the clinic to confirm what is available.

Ask about preparation in advance

Some exams have instructions you need to follow before you arrive. Certain ultrasound exams need an empty stomach, and pelvic ultrasounds may need a full bladder. Our patient preparation page lists these instructions, and our team is happy to go through them with you by phone so nothing is missed.

Mention cultural or modesty preferences

For many exams, you only need to uncover the area being examined, and gowns may be offered where needed. If you have a preference or concern related to modesty, religion or culture, mention it when you call to book, and our team will let you know what can be arranged.

Tell staff if you might be pregnant

Before an X-ray, it is important to tell the technologist if there is any chance you could be pregnant.

Bringing records from your previous country

If you had imaging done before moving, such as X-rays or ultrasounds for an ongoing condition, the reports can be useful to your new provider. Comparison with earlier studies sometimes helps when new images are interpreted.

• Bring copies of reports, and any images you have on disc or in digital form, to your provider appointment.
• If reports are in another language, ask your provider whether a translation would be helpful.
• Keep originals safe and share copies wherever possible.

Your provider can decide what is relevant and whether any of it should accompany your requisition.

Keeping your own health folder

Many families who are new to Ajax find it useful to keep a simple folder, paper or digital, for health paperwork. Settling in involves a lot of forms, and medical ones are easy to lose among them. A folder might hold:

• Copies of each requisition you receive, with the date you booked
• Appointment times and preparation instructions
• The name and contact details of each provider you see
• Notes from follow-up conversations about results

This is not something the clinic requires. It simply makes it easier to answer questions such as “when was your last X-ray?” months from now, when a new provider asks.

Getting to the clinic

Rossland Diagnostic Clinic is at Unit 102, 300 Rossland Road East, Ajax, ON L1Z 0M1. The clinic is on the ground floor, parking is free, and the location is accessible by public transit.

Our hours are:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Saturday: 8:00am to 3:30pm
• Sunday: closed

Hours may vary on statutory holidays, which can differ from the holidays you are used to, so call ahead if you are planning a visit around a long weekend.

Your first-visit checklist

Before you leave home, check that you have:

1. Your requisition, or for an immigration X-ray, your ID and panel-physician paperwork
2. Your Ontario health card, if you have one
3. Any preparation instructions, followed as given
4. A list of your medications
5. A support person, if that would help you
6. Our phone number saved: 905-426-3111

Welcome to Ajax. If you have a question about an exam, what to bring, or how payment works for your situation, call us at 905-426-3111 or request an appointment online, and a member of our team will get back to you.