Why should I be screened?
The goal of Ultrasound Services, Inc., is to provide your doctor with information about your health that may not be otherwise available. The conditions for which we are screening often have no recognizable symptoms. Through early detection of these conditions, you can then reduce or eliminate your risk for stroke, heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm or peripheral arterial disease as well as cancer and disease in the other internal organs.

Does my insurance cover the cost of a screening?
No, insurance does not cover the cost at this time. Insurance will only pay for complete ultrasound studies and then only if there are specific allowable symptoms and medical necessity that your physician can attest to.  If you were to pay for a full study out of pocket, it would cost much more than the cost of a screening.

How long does the screening take?
That depends on which screenings are being performed.  However if you are having all of the screenings, heart, vascular and general, it will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

How long has Ultrasound Services, Inc. been performing ultrasounds?
Ultrasound Services, Inc. has been in business for more than twenty years as a medical provider, providing diagnostic ultrasounds to patients with symptoms at physician offices and nursing homes.  While Ultrasound Services, Inc. continues to provide these diagnostic services, it became evident that a new niche in the ultrasound spectrum was developing and was not being properly addressed.  Just as mammograms, colonoscopies and pap smears have gained recognition as legitimate methods of providing preventive health care, ultrasound screening is now gaining attention for it's ability to provide early detection for a range of deadly and often symptomless diseases.  Ultrasound Services, Inc. developed the Live Safe and Play Safe programs to address this need.  Thus far, screening protocols have been developed for heart disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and diseases of the liver, gallbladder, common bile duct (CBD), pancreas, kidneys and thyroid.

How is Ultrasound Services, Inc. different from other mobile screening providers?
Ultrasound Services, Inc. is held up to the constant, rigorous standards of accrediting organizations.  In fact, Ultrasound Services, Inc. was the first and only mobile ultrasound company to be accredited in general, cardiac, vascular and vascular screening ultrasound (the first of only 6 organizations nationally to receive vascular ultrasound accreditation for screening). You may read more about what accreditation says about the quality of an ultrasound provider on the websites of the following accrediting organization, ICAEL, ICAVL or AIUM. It is these high standards that have led prominent organizations to choose USI as the provider of their members' screening ultrasounds.

Where are Live Safe screenings conducted?
Live Safe's screenings are primarily offered by employers in conjunction with employee benefit plans.  As such, they are often conducted at places of employment.  Talk to your employer about bringing Ultrasound Services' Live Safe program to your work place.  Screenings may also be conducted at area physician offices and independent organizations may contact Ultrasound Services, Inc. in regards to providing their members with screenings if there is a suitable location available and enough interested participants.  You may also always schedule a screening at our office in Newtown, PA.

After I have had the screening am I safe?
The screening protocols measure specific risk factors and there may be other factors that are not identified through these studies. 

What is the accuracy of such screenings?
The validity of a screening study is primarily dependent on the sonographer and the reader. USI has only sonographers and readers who have met our accreditation requirements. They will provide you an excellent study, following our specific protocol for each study.  The screening is not meant to provide an exact report of the participant's condition, but rather is meant to provide a general analysis to help determine if further testing is advisable.  The limited nature of an ultrasound screening is what allows us to offer it for a significantly lower price than a full study.  

How often should I be screened?
It depends on the participant, their clinical history, life style and risk factors. It could be as often as yearly or as infrequently as every four years.  Talk to your physician about how often you should be screened.

When will I get my results?
Your report will be mailed directly to you as well as to the physician whom you have indicated within two weeks.

If you are interested in Ultrasound Services Inc.'s athlete screening program for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, please visit our Play Safe homepage.