Don’t wait for an ultrasound. Instead, come to your nearest Urgency Room location, conveniently situated for easy access by anyone in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Whether you live in the heart of the Twin Cities or in a neighboring suburb, you’re a short drive from an Urgency Room in Eagan, Vadnais Heights or Woodbury. Our state-of-the-art facilities are home to the medical technology you need in your times of medical need. From breaks and sprains to kidney stones and ultrasounds, our physicians are capable of assessing, diagnosing and treating the symptoms you walk through our doors with.
Each standalone Urgency Room is owned and operated by the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA), which means you’re guaranteed to be in good hands when coming to us for care. Our patients are satisfied time and time again with the level of care they receive from our caring team. Each UR is open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, 365 days of the year—that means we’re open holidays, too. Each location is outfitted with equipment such as X-Ray machines, CT scanners, ultrasounds and high-complexity labs to examine and investigate a broad range of ailments, pains, illnesses or injuries—including when you may need an ultrasound.
What Is an Ultrasound?
When you hear the word “ultrasound,” you may first imagine that only pregnant women need ultrasounds. While you are correct, an ultrasound is actually a versatile tool that can be used to examine a variety of symptoms. Ultrasounds are typically used when examining pregnant women because they are a safer alternative to X-Rays as they do not use radiation.
Ultrasound, also known as sonography, is aptly named as it uses sound to create images of inside the body. By using a combination of high-frequency sound waves and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin of the area being examined, a probe is able to create an image of blood flow or body organs throughout your body. The probe being used transmits the sound waves through the gel placed on the skin. The sound waves bounce back to the probe and a computer is able to craft images based on how the sound waves are bouncing back. These sound waves also capture internal movement in real time, so physicians can watch how blood is flowing, organs are acting or a baby is moving as the ultrasound is being conducted.
Ultrasound technology has come a long way since its medical uses were first explored in the 1950s—it is ultimately a result of many decades of sonar development for underwater purposes. Today there are several types of ultrasound imaging that exist: conventional and Doppler. A conventional ultrasound reveals what’s happening internally through two-dimensional images, however, advancements in ultrasound technology enable physicians to see three-dimensional ultrasound images. Doppler ultrasounds are ideal for examining blood flow through different parts of your body or organs. Types of Doppler ultrasound include color Doppler, which utilizes different colors overlaid on the ultrasound image. The colors represent the direction and speed of blood flowing through the different vessels being examined. Advances in ultrasound technology allow physicians to see more detail than ever before, which enables them to see more of what they need in order to accurately diagnose and treat you.
When Do You Need an Ultrasound?
If you come in to your nearest Urgency Room with symptoms such as pain, swelling or suspected infection, you may have an ultrasound taken of the afflicted area. Ultrasounds are excellent for observing organs and vessels, such as:
- Heart
- Live
- Gallbladder
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Blood vessels, including the aorta
- Brain (in infants)
- Ovaries
- Scrotum
- Uterus
- Eyes
The majority of internal organs and vessels can be examined with the use of an ultrasound. It’s quick, painless and easy while able to tell a lot about what’s happening inside of your body. Since an ultrasound can detect abnormal blood flow, physicians will be able to identify some of the following:
- Blocked arteries
- Blood clots
- Closed veins
- Poor blood circulation
A physician may be able to get all the information they need from an ultrasound, but ultrasound results may lead to the need for further testing, such as an MRI. The physicians at The Urgency Room will be able to determine the best course of action for you and your needs.
When Minutes Matter, Come to The Urgency Room
When you’re experiencing pain from swelling or infection, don’t put off getting the medical help you need today. While going to your typical emergency room could mean waiting hours in a crowded waiting room until you can be seen, The Urgency Room is known for its efficiency and speed when it comes to seeing patients. You’ll wait a fraction of the time that you would anywhere else. Stop enduring pain now by coming in for the high-quality medical care you deserve.
Have more questions? Check out all of our comprehensive services and capabilities here. Our extensive list of services and ailments we treat will have you coming to us for more than ultrasounds. Whenever you need a medical service that fulfills the gap between a crowded emergency room and a pricey urgent care clinic, The Urgency Room is ready for you. Our easily accessible locations and convenient hours make us second to none for treating your urgent medical needs. Even after you leave, our aftercare videos will help answer questions and support you on your road to recovery.
For ultrasounds and much more, come to the caring hands at your nearest Urgency Room. We’re ready and waiting to help you as soon as possible.