Patient Care

What to expect on the day of your scan

INITIO offers a variety of scans to suit each patient’s individual needs based on their medical history. Each scan has specific preparation that must be followed before, during and/or after the appointment. It is important that the preparation necessary for the appointment is followed. Upon booking the appointment, we will provide an appointment letter, which will include the pre-scan preparation necessary for the appointment which you are scheduled for.

In order to make sure that a PET/CT scan is right for you and is performed safely and effectively, we use the following process:

1. Scan Request Form
A form requesting a scan must be completed by a referring medical doctor ordering the procedure. If you have previous diagnostic imaging reports, you or your doctor must also give them to us. Once we receive the request form, our doctor reviews it to make sure that a scan is right for you. This takes 1-2 days.
2. Your Intake Call
With our doctor’s approval, our medical office assistant will contact you to explain how we do the scan and will ask you questions about your medical history, medications, etc. If we haven’t received previous diagnostic reports and images, we’ll ask for these, too. We may request some information of you many times during the entire process, as this information is important to providing you the best care. You will then be scheduled for an appointment, usually within a week, and we’ll walk you through the booking and scanning process.
3. Preparing for Your Scan
In preparing for your scan, avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before your appointment. Please follow a high protein, low carbohydrate and low sugar diet the day before your scan.

Note: For PSMA scans no special preparation is required. You can keep eating, drinking, and taking medications as prescribed.
4. Day of Your Scan
You can take your medication if you do not take it with food. If any medications need to be stopped before the scan, you will be advised at the time of booking. For diabetic patients, please refer here for more information. You should drink 3-4 glasses of water before coming to your appointment.
5. Your Scan
During the scan, you must lie flat for 45 minutes. If you need medication to calm you during the procedure, please speak to your physician before your appointment day. We welcome friends and family members, but it is not possible for them to be in the private room or the scanning room due to radiation exposure. We do have a comfortable waiting area for them, which includes drinks, snacks, TV, other entertainment, and full wireless internet service. Guests may also leave and come back as they wish.
6. Scan Procedures
When you get to the clinic, you will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire. You will then be weighed so that we know how much fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG tracer, necessary for scanning) to inject into you. You will then be taken to a private room where your vital signs will be assessed, and IV access established. After your FDG injection, you will relax for about 1 hour, giving the FDG time to move through your body. It is important that you are not overly stimulated during this time, so reading, TV, and internet use is not possible. Excessive movement is also not recommended.
7. During your Scan
During your scan, you will lie on an imaging table that will slowly move you through the scanner while images are acquired. The scan will last approximately 30-45 minutes, it is important that you remain still. You will be given a warm blanket as the room is kept cool, to allow for optimal function of the camera. A radiologist and a registered nurse are on site for any contrast scans, to ensure the utmost safety during your scan.
8. After Your Scan
After the scan is over, you will return to your private room to gather your belongings. There are a variety of snack and beverages in the reception area, you are encouraged to help yourself. Alternatively, you may bring your own food, or leave for lunch.
9. Obtaining Your Results
Once our nuclear medicine physician or radiologist have read your scan, we will send a copy of your report to your referring doctor and any other doctors requested. We will call you when the results have been sent to your doctor so that you can follow up with them. Please note the report can take up to 5 business days.
Download Scan Process

The Clinic

Our clinic is welcoming and designed for patient comfort. Focused on individualized patient needs and care, we offer a private, comfortable room in which patients can receive their radioisotope injection and relax while preparing for their scan. We welcome family and friends to accompany you to the clinic.

INITIO is conveniently located near Highway 1 and easily accessible from Exit 29 Willingdon Ave. There is plenty of parking; validation is available.

#300 – 3185 Willingdon Green
Burnaby, BC V5G 4P3

Welcome to INITIO. We’ve designed our facility around patient privacy, comfort, and the highest quality of care.
Welcome to INITIO. We’ve designed our facility around patient privacy, comfort, and the highest quality of care.
While delivering efficient and effective care, we also prioritize a calm, supportive environment for patients and their loved ones.
While delivering efficient and effective care, we also prioritize a calm, supportive environment for patients and their loved ones.
In our secure and private uptake room, our staff assists the patient in preparing for the scan, including answering any questions or concerns. Once a patient has received an injection of the imaging isotope, e.g. fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG tracer) which makes the scan possible, they will return here to wait comfortably for the FDG to move through their body properly. Leather recliners, blankets, and a personalized snack for after the patient’s pre-scan fast are all provided.
In our secure and private uptake room, our staff assists the patient in preparing for the scan, including answering any questions or concerns. Once a patient has received an injection of the imaging isotope, e.g. fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG tracer) which makes the scan possible, they will return here to wait comfortably for the FDG to move through their body properly. Leather recliners, blankets, and a personalized snack for after the patient’s pre-scan fast are all provided.
Our scanning room and equipment are maintained to the highest professional standards, ensuring efficient and accurate diagnostic care.
Our scanning room and equipment are maintained to the highest professional standards, ensuring efficient and accurate diagnostic care.
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PET/CT

A PET/CT procedure or PET scan is a complex process that requires comprehensive and sophisticated equipment and highly trained professionals, including a nuclear medicine physician, a radiologist, nuclear chemists, cyclotron (isotope generator) operators, and nuclear medicine technologists.

The imaging is performed in our facility with a specialized scanner, using powerful computers and state-of-the-art software that combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) to produce concurrent functional and anatomic images critical to diagnosing and staging many diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Our equipment is monitored around the clock and routinely upgraded, and our dedicated, qualified, and experienced staff are committed to providing the highest level of service at a fair and consistent price.

Learn More About PET/CT

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