Today, few people in our country pay due attention to their own health. And actually this is not good. In order to timely identify any disease, it is necessary at the first manifestations to seek the help of a specialist.
Radiography is one of the most accurate and informative modern methods of laboratory research. With it, doctors can diagnose pathologies of various origins at the earliest stages of their development and timely proceed with their treatment. One type of method is fluorography. It allows you to identify many serious respiratory diseases, in particular tuberculosis and pneumonia. In some cases, this type of examination is mandatory, and sometimes people want to go through it on their own to make sure that there are no ailments. Therefore, the question of whether fluorography can be done without a physician’s referral is very relevant. Let's take a closer look at it and find out where to go and what documents may be required.
general information
This article will talk in detail about how to do fluorography in a clinic without a referral. But first, let's talk a little about the study itself. According to qualified specialists, it is one of the best for the diagnosis of many diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, as it has high accuracy and informativeness. With its help, it is possible not only to identify pathology in the very first stages of its course, but also to establish the cause of its development, severity and make a detailed clinical picture of the patient’s health status. All these data are necessary to draw up the most effective treatment program.
After undergoing fluorography, an x-ray is issued, which shows any pathological changes in the soft tissues and accumulation of fluids. Based on this, the doctors are diagnosed, after which they write a detailed transcript, which is attached to the patient’s medical record.
What the law says
It is advisable to familiarize yourself with this aspect first. Many people are wondering, is it possible to do fluorography without a referral in Russia? To give the most complete answer to this question, it is necessary to turn to the law. The government issued a project under the number 77-F3, in which additional adjustments were made in 2016 to combat outbreaks of tuberculosis epidemics. According to it, every citizen of the Russian Federation has the right to undergo a free examination. To do this, he needs to contact the nearest hospital located at the place of registration, having with him the following documents:
- passport;
- compulsory health insurance policy.
It is worth noting that if an X-ray examination was prescribed by a doctor because of the need for additional information, then in this case the list of documents will be slightly wider. You will also need to provide:
- the direction in which the proposed diagnosis should be indicated;
- medical record with the last record of the attending physician.
Now, probably, everyone will have a question about how to undergo fluorography without a direction, if there is no OMZ. In this case, you can contact a private clinic and undergo an examination for money. How much it will cost is very difficult to say, since prices across the country vary in a very wide range. In some regions, the cost is 400 rubles, while in others it can reach one and a half thousand. People who are not residents of the Russian Federation, but temporarily residing on its territory, can undergo a paid procedure not only in commercial, but also in state medical institutions.
What diseases are used to identify?
Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to undergo fluorography without the direction of a therapist. And this is not surprising, because X-ray examination provides an opportunity to diagnose with a 100 percent accuracy a number of dangerous diseases that occur for a long time secretly, and in a neglected form can lead to many serious complications and even death.
These include the following:
- tuberculosis;
- pulmonary fibrosis;
- bronchial obstruction;
- pneumonia;
- bronchitis;
- hernia of the dome of the diaphragm;
- lung abscess;
- bronchogenic cyst;
- abdominal formations;
- various anatomical abnormalities;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- pleural layers;
- the presence of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract;
- cancerous tumors.
Thus, if you know how to undergo fluorography in a clinic without a referral, you will be able to find out about your disease in a timely manner and begin treatment immediately, which will avoid many complications. Everything related to this issue, you can find out more.
Types of fluorography
If you are interested in whether it is possible to undergo fluorography without a doctor’s direction, then you should also have an idea of ​​its varieties. And now let's dwell on this in more detail.
According to experts, today the following methods exist:
- Film. Appeared one of the first. It has good information content, but accuracy, but leaves much to be desired due to poor image quality. The equipment works on the principle of a video camera. Behind the patient’s back is a special apparatus that transmits X-rays through the body. As a result, the picture is transferred to the film. The main advantage is low cost.
- Digital The most common form that is widely used today. The equipment is based on a special matrix that significantly improves image quality and accuracy of the final results. In addition, it is safer than the one described above, since the device sends out less x-ray radiation. The picture is saved in digital format on the computer’s hard drive, from which it can be printed or sent by e-mail.
- Scanning. This method is the safest. But its disadvantage is low accuracy, so it is almost never used.
In fact, the main difference between all types of x-ray studies is the technology used. The essence itself remains unchanged. How to do fluorography in a clinic without a referral using any of the methods described above? The algorithm of actions in each case is the same. You can learn about it a little later.
Indications for appointment
This aspect should be given special attention. Fluorography is intended for the early diagnosis of various ailments of the respiratory system. For the purpose of prevention, each person can be examined, but there are a number of cases when it is mandatory.
Doctors prescribe it to patients with the following diseases:
- any form of tuberculosis;
- bronchogenic carcinoma;
- diabetes;
- stomach ulcer;
- various diseases of the genitourinary system;
- previous respiratory tract pathologies;
- HIV
- the presence of chronic diseases;
- Carriage sticks Koch.
In addition, the passage of fluorography is a prerequisite before the upcoming radiation cytostatic therapy, as well as with the appearance of symptoms such as shortness of breath and severe cough that do not go away for a long period of time.
Can fluorography be performed without direction? Yes, but there is one important nuance. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, people working with homeless or unhealthy industries, as well as kindergarten teachers and teachers in schools and universities, should be examined annually. The same applies to the students themselves. In this case, you do not need to make an appointment with the doctor in advance to receive a referral. After the due period, you can immediately come to the X-ray room with your medical card and undergo an examination. We will talk more about this later.
Contraindications
This aspect should be given special attention. It is quite possible to do fluorography without a direction, but qualified specialists do not recommend doing this. This is due to x-ray exposure, which has a certain negative effect on the body. Undoubtedly, it is minimal, therefore it does not pose a serious threat to health. But it is better not to take risks and consult with doctors beforehand. As for contraindications, even though they are few, but they are. You should refrain from x-ray examination in the following cases:
- age up to 14 years;
- pregnancy;
- lactation period;
- inability to hold your breath;
- the inability to stand on their own;
- claustrophobia.
If you do not have any of the above problems, then you can safely pass the examination. How to do fluorography in a clinic without a doctor? The answer to this question will be given in detail in one of the following sections. You will be able to find out how the whole process is going on, what documents you need to have with you, and how many valid test results are.
Possible complications
Many people do not want to undergo fluorography because they are afraid for their health. Fears are well founded, because X-rays affect all internal organs and systems. With strong radiation exceeding the permissible norm, the likelihood of developing some serious pathologies is created. But subject to all the rules and regulations, any associated risks are extremely small. According to the doctors themselves, the presence of hidden diseases is much more dangerous than the laboratory study itself. Therefore, there are no well-founded reasons for concern.
How often can fluorography be done?
According to the law, radiography can be done once a year. In this case, no harm to health is created. In addition, the incubation period for some diseases lasts just as long, among which there is tuberculosis. But there are a number of cases when fluorography is performed more often. This occurs if the picture is defective and the doctor cannot make an accurate diagnosis. Also, people with serious chronic pathologies should be examined every 6 months. Thus, the snapshot and decryption are valid for one year. Then the patient comes to the appointment with the therapist, and he writes out the direction. The same applies to those cases when you need a certificate ahead of schedule, for example, for employment.
How to get tested
Here, in fact, we came to a matter of concern to all, namely how to do fluorography in a clinic without a referral. Everything is very simple here, since the legislation does not limit citizens, but merely gives certain recommendations regarding how often to be screened for tuberculosis. As previously noted, if the last time radiography was done less than a year ago, then you must first consult with qualified specialists.
But without direction, fluorography can be done in one of the following cases:
- the presence of any pathologies of the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems, proceeding in a chronic form;
- diabetes;
- the need for corticosteroid or radiation treatment;
- if you are a representative of some professions.
It is worth noting that fluorography without a referral is free and can be done at any state hospital in Russia by every citizen. You just need to come to the clinic and go to the radiology office. The procedure itself lasts only a few minutes. But it is impossible to say exactly how much time it will take you, since here everything depends on the availability of a queue.
The whole procedure is as follows:
- The patient should undress to the waist and take off his watch, belt, jewelry and other metal objects.
- After that, he enters the device’s cabin and presses his chest tightly against the screen of a special monitor, and puts his chin on the stand located on it.
- You need to fix your body in this position until the very end of the procedure.
- At the command of a specialist, it is necessary to hold your breath and not move.
After a few seconds, the picture will be ready. Then he is given for decryption. In the certificate, the doctor does not indicate the exact diagnosis, but a special code. If the patient does not have any health problems, then the digital value is written in the document. If there is a disease, the doctor makes a diagnosis and writes it on the medical record. All this is completely free. Fluorography without a direction is no different from that for the appointment of a doctor, so you should not have any special problems. In case of refusal, you can contact the head of the department or the head physician. And if this does not lead to anything, then in order to solve the problem, an application should be submitted to the prosecutor's office.
General tips and tricks
So, we already know that fluorography can be done without direction. But in order to get accurate results, it is very important to do the examination correctly. This primarily concerns smoking. Doctors recommend abstaining from a bad habit, planning to go to the hospital. Smoke can adversely affect image quality, making it impossible to make an accurate diagnosis. In this case, you will be re-sent for an x-ray, so you will have to re-expose your body to harmful radiation.
In addition, there are some laboratory research methods that are not advisable to combine with fluorography. These include:
- radiography;
- mammography;
- metrosalpinography;
- fluoroscopy;
- irrigoscopy;
- irrigography;
- cholecystocholangiography;
- fluoroscopy;
- CT scan.
The use of several examination methods at once creates too high a radiation load on the body, which can cause the development of serious diseases. If you plan to undergo a comprehensive examination, it is better not to do fluorography without a doctor’s direction. Preliminary consultation will avoid many problems.
Fluorography alternative
Today in modern medicine there are quite a lot of different laboratory research methods designed to diagnose diseases of the respiratory system. One of those, which is most often prescribed instead of fluorography, is an X-ray of the lungs. It also has good accuracy and information, but with it there is a large radiation load on the body, which makes it more harmful.
If you have any suspicions or alarming symptoms of any respiratory disease, it is best not to hesitate. You should immediately go to the hospital and undergo fluorography without a referral. If you really will be diagnosed with a pathology, then it will not only allow the doctor to confirm the fact of its presence, but also receive detailed information about the degree and stage of the course, as well as draw up a detailed clinical picture.
Conclusion
Now you know how to undergo fluorography in a clinic without a referral. In this article, all aspects related to this method of laboratory research were disclosed in detail. As you can see, it is safe, so you can safely agree to an examination and not be afraid if you are told several times a day to undergo the procedure.
Fluorography should be done periodically, no matter how you want it. After all, it allows you to timely detect many dangerous diseases that, at a late stage, are difficult to treat and in some cases can even lead to death. Therefore, you should not be afraid of x-rays, but of the consequences that are fraught with any delay. And if you have any doubts, then you can consult a qualified specialist, and he will answer all your questions.