Chest X-Ray at Home

ARE MOBILE CHEST X-RAYS SAFE?

X-ray technologies are a valuable tool for allowing your physician to “see inside” your body, gaining visual verification of medical conditions that they can otherwise only suspect. While x-rays are considered exceptionally safe, they do have a very small inherent risk due to the radiation that is used to produce images. Excessive radiation can increase the risk for some types of cancers, but the dose of radiation for a chest x-ray is so small as to be almost negligible.

For context, most people are exposed to about 3 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation each year from environmental factors alone. This radiation comes primarily from cosmic rays and the natural gas in our homes. Radiation exposure is a natural part of our lives and not a cause for concern until extremely high levels of exposure.

A mobile chest x-ray produces about 0.1 mSv of radiation, roughly equivalent to 10 days of background radiation. It should also be noted that radiation alone does not cause cancer – rather, it only increases the risk of cancer. The medical benefits of x-rays far outweigh the increased risk, but if you have concerns about the safety of an x-ray, speak to your medical provider.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR AN AT-HOME X-RAY

Our expert medical team will provide all the equipment and expertise needed to complete your chest x-ray. Home health care professionals will come to you with the x-ray machine, specialized imaging equipment, and computers equipped with the software required to capture high-quality digital images. Mobile x-ray machines are still large and require an open flat surface on the ground near the patient.

To prepare for an at-home x-ray, simply find a place where you can sit or lie still while the scans take place. This can be a couch, bed, or chair. Your x-ray technician will position the equipment, place a specialized plate behind your chest, and provide any instructions needed to complete the scan. For a chest x-ray, the technician will typically take multiple images from different angles and may require you to stand, hold your arms to the side, or rotate your shoulders.

WHO WE TREAT

Kinkaid Private Care offers concierge at-home medical services in Los Angeles and surrounding cities. Our services are available to all adults who value the convenience and practicality of at-home medical services, including families, elder care, psychiatric care, and memory care patients. Our multidisciplinary team is equipped to manage people with complex medical conditions and co-occurring disorders, and we pride ourselves in providing best-in-class care for our patients.

We proudly serve people who are looking for:

• Senior care
• Mental health care
• Hospice care
• Memory care
• At-home detox
• Preventive medicine

And much more. Whatever your medical needs are, reaching out to our experienced medical team can determine whether home care with a private physician is a good choice for you.