Western Baptist Hospital provides patients with information on what to expect when undergoing gallbladder x-rays.

Registering for the Test

Western Baptist Hospital's Express Check program makes registering for outpatient tests in our Diagnostic Imaging department fast and easy. To take advantage of the program, follow these simple steps:

1. As soon as your physician schedules your gallbladder X-rays, call our pre-registration area at (270) 575-2979. Pre-registration clerks are available 24 hours a day seven days a week to take your phone call. Even if you are scheduled for a test or procedure the same day, it is still to your advantage to call ahead to begin the registration process.
2. Be ready to provide the registration clerk with the following information:
   • your medical record number, if you are familiar with it and you have registered at Western Baptist before;
   • your date of birth;
   • your social security number;
   • your home address;
   • the specific tests or procedures the physician has ordered; and
   • your insurance card.
3. If the clerk is able to complete your paperwork in this phone call, he or she will tell you that you are eligible for Express Check.
4. When you prepare to come to the hospital, make sure you bring your physician orders and your insurance card with you.
5. When you arrive at Western Baptist, proceed directly to the Express Check receptionist, who will copy your insurance card, have you sign a consent form and send you to Diagnostic Imaging.

You may also pre-register online by clicking here.

If you do not take advantage of the Express Check program, plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time to complete the registration process.

Preparing for the Test

On the evening before your x-ray examination, eat a light supper containing fruit or fruit juice, coffee or tea with sugar but no milk or cream; vegetables cooked without fat or oil; bread with jelly. Do not eat meat. Fried foods are also forbidden.

After supper, do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum. Water, however, may be taken.

About 14 hours before the x-ray examination, swallow the tablets one at a time with water. Wait five minutes between each tablet. Your physician will tell you how many tablets to take or if he or she wants you to take the pills on two consecutive nights.

These tablets may cause abdominal cramping and/or diarrhea. This is normal.

Do not eat any breakfast on the morning of your exam. You may have liquids with sugar but no milk or cream. Report for the x-ray exam at the time directed by your physician.

If you have any questions, please call the diagnostic imaging department at (270) 575-2600 or talk to your physician.

What Will the Exam Be Like?

When you arrive for the exam, you will change into a hospital gown.

A technologist will then position you on a special x-ray table and take several different views of your gallbladder. You will not have to drink anything for this test. After the films are taken, the radiologist will interpret your study and send a written report to your physician.

Important Information

Inform the technologist if you may be pregnant. If there is a possibility of pregnancy, a pregnancy test will be ordered before the exam.

If you have questions about your bill, please call Patient Accounts at the appropriate number listed in our phone directory. The radiologist's bill is separate from the hospital's.

For More Information

For more information on Western Baptist Hospital's diagnostic imaging services, please call (270) 575-2600.

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