See More of Your Health: View Your Imaging Studies in MyChart

We believe you should have convenient access to your health information. Now, you can view images from many of your imaging studies directly in MyChart. 

Making your images available in MyChart is one more way we're giving our patients a clearer view of their care. It also reflects our commitment to transparency and supports the 21st Century Cures Act's goal of making electronic health information easier for patients to access. 

What Does This Mean?

• You may be able to view images from studies such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs in MyChart.
• Having access to your images gives you another way to stay informed and engaged in your care.
• You can review your images alongside your radiology report and discuss them with your healthcare team.
• Your images may also be useful when talking with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Images Are Only Part of Your Story

Whether or not your role involves interpreting medical images, reviewing your own study is different from reviewing one as part of your work. Your images are one part of your health information—not a stand-alone diagnosis.

The radiology report provides the radiologist's interpretation of your study. Your ordering or treating clinician can help put the findings in context with your symptoms, medical history, and overall care. Something that stands out on an image is not necessarily abnormal.

If you have questions about your results or what they mean for your care, contact the clinician who ordered your study or the team managing your condition.

For Your Patients

It’s helpful to let patients know they can view their images in MyChart—and to explain how those images fit into the bigger picture of their care. The radiology report provides the radiologist’s interpretation, and the clinician who ordered the study or the patient’s care team can explain what the findings mean for them. A simple conversation can help patients feel informed and know where to turn with questions.

Answers to the questions below can help guide your conversations with patients.

• When a patient asks: “Why can I see my images now?”
  Suggested response: Carilion is making more of your health information conveniently available to you through MyChart. This reflects our commitment to transparency and patient access. You can view the images, but you are not expected to interpret them yourself. The radiology report provides the radiologist's interpretation, and your care team can help explain what the findings mean for you.
   
• When a patient asks: “What am I looking at?”
  Suggested response: These are the actual images created during your imaging study. They can be difficult to interpret without specialized training. The radiology report is the best place to start because it contains the radiologist's interpretation of the study.
   
• When a patient says: “I see something that looks wrong.”
  Suggested response: I understand why seeing something unfamiliar could raise questions. Medical images contain many normal structures that can be difficult to recognize without specialized training. The radiology report provides the radiologist's interpretation, and your healthcare team can help you understand what the findings mean for you.
   
• When a patient asks: "Can an Imaging team member interpret the result?"
  Suggested response: Use the role-specific workflow established by Imaging leadership. Patients should be directed to the appropriate clinician for interpretation and clinical implications rather than receiving an informal interpretation of the image.

For More Information

Download the Patient FAQ and How to Explain Imaging Access to Patients below.