"I would be happy to explain the tests, Mrs. Reed. Be sure to let me know if anything I say confuses you. We want you to be comfortable with your decision about having these tests done.
"First off, the ultrasound test is used very often these days on pregnant women. It involves sending ultra-high-frequency sound waves into the area being tested -- in this case your stomach.
"The waves then bounce off your internal organs. The time it takes for them to return is measured by the ultrasound machine. There is no pain or discomfort from the sound waves, although the paddles themselves and the jelly used to prepare the test area can be a little cold.
"The whole test should take 30 minutes or less and we would be able to tell you what we found before you even left the office.
"I hope that explains the ultrasound. Now a CAT scan is a more complicated process, but one that is still widely used as it offers us a very clear picture inside the human body.
"CAT, incidentally, stands for computerized axial tomography. That's a fancy way of saying a high-tech X-ray. The test involves sending you into a large machine that takes pictures of you in thin 'slices' as you are moved forward and backward. Put together, these slices yield a picture we can analyze instantly.
"Some patients say it is dark and frightening inside the machine, but we can offer you a mild sedative to help you relax. This test would probably take 40 minutes.
"And while there is some exposure to radiation in this test, current standards allow patients to undergo three such tests in a single year without going over the safety standards set by federal health officials.
"Any questions?"
Radiologists have to have a good bedside manner.
Dr. Blake McClarty says communication skills are vital in the field.
"You are a consultant's consultant. So, basically, other physicians come down and ask you [questions]. Every case has a report that has to be generated, so even written communication skills are important. You have to convey your impression well."