Our Radiology & Ultrasound department features cutting-edge technology that enhances accuracy, shortens testing times, and reduces radiation exposure—delivering safer, more efficient care for you and your loved ones. We offer a full range of advanced diagnostic imaging services designed to detect, diagnose, and support the treatment of a wide variety of health conditions. These innovative tools are a key part of our commitment to comprehensive, continuous care, backed by the expertise of our experienced radiologists who provide precise image interpretation to help guide your treatment with confidence.
Sioux Center Health offers a 32-slice GE scanner.
CT is an imaging test that uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed cross-sectional images of the body. A CT scan shows information about injuries, diseases, or abnormalities of bones, muscles, fat, and organs. In an emergency, CT can be used to evaluate internal injuries and bleeding quickly.
CT may be done with or without contrast. Contrast may either be taken by mouth or injected through an IV line. Contrast is beneficial for highlighting organs/tissues during the study, showing abnormalities in organs, or following the function of organs as contrast filters through them.
CT can be utilized for multiple reasons. A CT scan may be done when an exam (such as an X-ray) does not give enough information to your doctor. CT may also be ordered to look for bone damage, lesions, fractures, abdominal abnormalities, or other problems.
Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you and give you a chance to ask any questions.
Depending on the exam, you might need to fast and drink oral contrast the night before the exam. Your healthcare provider will give you special instructions ahead of time if contrast is to be used and if you will need to withhold food/drink.
Inform the technologist if you are pregnant or if you think you may be.
You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects that may interfere with the scan, depending on which body part is being imaged. We will provide a gown if you need to change.
We will have you lie on a narrow scan table for the exam and the table will move in and out of the CT gantry during the scan. You may hear clicking or whirring noises, which are normal. You may also be given breathing instructions during the exam.
If you will need to have intravenous contrast, an IV will be started in your hand or arm. When it is time to use the contrast, a technologist will be in the room with you. You may feel a warm flushing sensation, a salty metallic taste in the mouth, or nausea. These effects usually last a few moments, or not at all.
Inform the technologist if you have trouble breathing or experience sweating or a racing heart.
If you have any questions please inform the technologist.
Sioux Center Health offers bone density imaging through DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scans, the most advanced and reliable method for diagnosing osteoporosis and assessing bone health. This quick, non-invasive screening measures bone mineral density, helping identify early signs of bone loss before fractures occur. DEXA scans are especially important for postmenopausal women, older adults, or anyone at risk for osteoporosis. With accurate results and expert interpretation, our bone density imaging helps guide prevention and treatment plans to support long-term bone health.
Ultrasound is a type of imaging that uses reflected sound waves to display high-quality images from inside the body. We offer OBGYN, abdominal, breast, testicular, thyroid, soft tissue, and certain vascular ultrasounds. Ultrasound does not use radiation and has no documented risks associated with it.
Preparation varies depending on the type of ultrasound you are having. Some exams have no prep while others may require you to fast or have a full bladder. You will be given specific instructions when you are scheduled for your ultrasound. If you have any questions, please call our Diagnostic Imaging Department at (712) 722-8116.
Please enter through the main (east) entrance of Sioux Center Health. Stop at the Patient Registration area to register for your appointment. Once you are registered, you will be directed to the Radiology waiting area.
Your ultrasound will be performed by a registered sonographer; a professional trained to acquire high-quality ultrasound images. The sonographer will guide you from the waiting area to the ultrasound room. They will explain the procedure to you and are happy to answer any questions. You will be asked to lie down on an exam table. Warm gel will be applied to the area being evaluated and a transducer (a small device that produces and receives the sound waves) will be moved over the area of interest. You may be asked to change positions or hold your breath in order to obtain the best quality images. Exams usually last anywhere from 30-60 minutes.
Your images will be interpreted by one of our radiologists (doctors who specialize in diagnostic imaging). Their report will be available to the provider who ordered your exam. The sonographer is not a doctor and is unable to discuss any results with you. You may receive a phone call from your physician’s office or have a follow-up appointment to discuss the results. If you are unsure of how you will receive your results or have any questions, please contact your physician’s office.
Sioux Center Health offers expert EKG (Electrocardiogram) testing — a simple, painless procedure that provides vital information about your heart’s electrical activity. By recording the heart’s rhythm and electrical impulses, an EKG helps detect irregular heartbeats, heart attacks, and other cardiac conditions quickly and accurately. This essential test plays a crucial role in diagnosing heart health issues early, allowing for timely treatment and peace of mind. With skilled technicians and prompt results, Sioux Center Health ensures your heart gets the attention it deserves.
Sioux Center Health offers fluoroscopy, a specialized imaging technique that provides real-time X-ray videos of your body's internal structures in motion. This dynamic imaging is invaluable for guiding diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as swallowing studies, joint injections, and gastrointestinal evaluations. By visualizing movement and function as they happen, fluoroscopy helps our physicians make precise diagnoses and deliver targeted treatments with confidence. With state-of-the-art equipment and experienced technicians, Sioux Center Health ensures your fluoroscopy exams are safe, comfortable, and effective.
Built with patient comfort in mind, Sioux Center Health’s MRI helps ease anxiety and concerns with tight spaces. A wider table and larger opening gives the patient more room to relax while the procedure takes place. Each patient will be able to choose their preference in music during their exam.
Some of the advanced features include:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of the inside of your body. It may be used to help diagnose or monitor treatment for a variety of conditions within the body.
Please remove all jewelry prior to coming to the hospital. Guidelines about eating and drinking before an MRI vary between specific exams. Unless you are told otherwise, take food and medications as usual.
Most MRI exams are painless. However, some patients find it uncomfortable to remain still. Others may feel closed-in (claustrophobic) while in the MRI scanner. The scanner can be noisy.
It is normal for the area of your body being imaged to feel slightly warm. If it bothers you, tell the radiology technologist. It is important that you remain perfectly still while the images are being taken. This is typically only a few minutes at a time. You will know when images are being recorded because you will hear loud tapping or thumping sounds. These are made when the coils that generate the radio waves are activated. You will be provided with earplugs or headphones to reduce the sounds made by the scanner. You may be able to relax between imaging sequences. However, you will be asked to keep the same position without moving.
You will usually be alone in the exam room. However, the technologist will be able to see, hear, and speak with you at all times using a two-way intercom.
In some cases, IV injection of contrast material may be given before the images are obtained. Some patients may have a temporary metallic taste in their mouth after the contrast injection.
Tell your doctor about any health problems, recent surgeries, or allergies and whether there’s a possibility you are pregnant. The magnetic field is not harmful, but it may cause some medical devices to malfunction. Most orthopedic implants pose no risk, but you should always tell the technologist if you have any devices or metal in your body.
Sioux Center Health is proud to have a dedicated, in-house nuclear imaging specialist who provides advanced diagnostic testing focused on general and cardiac imaging. This includes evaluating heart function, blood flow, and other essential aspects of cardiovascular health, as well as performing scans to assess various conditions throughout the body. By offering these specialized services on site, we ensure timely, accurate results and a more convenient care experience for our patients.
Sioux Center Health offers PET/CT imaging for oncology staging and restaging, a powerful tool in the diagnosis and management of cancer. This advanced scan combines the metabolic imaging of a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan with the detailed anatomical views of a CT (Computed Tomography) scan, allowing physicians to see both the location and activity of cancer within the body. PET/CT is commonly used to determine the initial stage of cancer (staging), as well as to monitor how the disease is responding to treatment or if it has returned (restaging). This comprehensive imaging helps guide personalized treatment plans and supports better outcomes through precise, timely information. This imaging is done in a mobile unit at Sioux Center Health.
Images are immediately available and crystal clear in digital format. We have a room dedicated to x-ray, another room with x-ray that doubles as a fluoroscopy (live x-ray) suite for special procedures. There are also 2 portable x-ray machines available for our less mobile patients, and a portable unit for imaging during emergency and surgery cases.
When it comes to diagnosing breast cancer, early detection is the best protection. Sioux Center Health is committed to leading-edge technologies and sophisticated practices that save lives by giving patients a vital head start through early detection of breast cancer.
Available to patients at a convenient location, our state-of-the-art equipment provides several advantages, allowing us to identify and treat breast cancer at its earliest and most curable stages. We offer both screening and diagnostic mammography services as well as diagnostic ultrasound imaging of the breast.
If you have dense breast tissue, your provider may choose to combine digital mammography with 3D mammography, also known as Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT). With 3D technology, the machine moves around the breast in an arc to create snapshots of the breast tissue in thin layers. These enhanced images offer benefits such as:
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Give yourself the best opportunity to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages by following these breast screening recommendations:
Women 25 – 39:
Women 40 and over:
If you are 40+, we encourage you to schedule your yearly mammogram during the month of your birthday by calling (712) 722-8116.
We offer a wide range of imaging tests to meet your health needs, including X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, mammograms, and more. Whether it’s for routine screening or diagnosing a specific concern, our team is here to provide fast, accurate results in a comfortable setting.
Ask your primary health care provider for an imaging referral.
For financial assistance, please contact our Business Office at (712) 722-8297 or (712) 722-8183 for more information.
Give us a call at (712) 722-1271 or explore more ways to connect with us. We're happy to help — anytime, any way we can.