If You Get X-Rays Taken, Put It on Your Calendar

I recently had to request some X-ray images, so I contacted three offices — two on the West Coast and one on the East Coast. The two West Coast offices are different practices that sometimes work together.

I reached out to the East Coast office first via email, they responded back with conflicting information: they said they didn’t have the images because the software got corrupted, and if I came by, they could give them to me. Of course I asked for clarification — which one was it?

Then someone else from that office jumped in and sent over the X-ray photos they did have available. I’m very grateful to that person for helping with that request.

Next, I contacted one of the West Coast offices. They also said their software got corrupted and files were lost. However, they suggested I reach out to the second practice to see if they had the specific X-rays I was requesting. They did. They told me they had already sent the images back to the first office, so I had to follow-up again with the original practice.

My point is:

If you ever get X-rays taken, request your images before leaving the office. Ask what their timeline is. Then put it on your calendar to follow up if you don’t receive them.

It’s one of those easy things to forget — until you need them.

It’s your body. Keep the record.