The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
When you come for a test or scan, our team is here to help make the process as simple and supportive as possible. At Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), we offer many kinds of medical tests and imaging. The results help your care team understand your health and plan the right treatment.
Our services include:
During your visit, your team will explain the procedure, answer your questions, and help you feel at ease.
Diagnostic tests provide important information about your health and how your body is working. Test results can help your care team find the cause of your symptoms and plan your care.
A cardiac stress test lets your care team see how your heart is working during physical activity. During the test, small cables called leads are attached to your chest. We use them to monitor your heart’s activity.
You will either:
We will check your blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm before, during, and after the test. We may also do an echocardiogram during some types of stress tests to take images of your heart.
An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound test. It shows how well your heart muscle and valves are working. There are two kinds of heart echocardiograms:
TTE uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart. A cool gel is placed on your chest during the test. Then, a small device called a transducer is gently moved over your chest to take images of your heart on a screen.
TEE provides more detailed images than TTE. During this test, a probe is placed in your esophagus to be closer to your heart. You will receive sedation for this test.
Before your TEE, you cannot have anything to eat or drink. Your care team will give you more instructions and can answer your questions.
A Holter monitor is a small, portable device. It records your heart rhythm for a set amount of time, from 24 hours to 21 days. You wear it under your clothes, and it connects to small cables called leads on your chest. It records your heartbeat while you do your normal daily activities.
We will also give you a diary to take home and fill out. You use it to track things like when you take medicine or if you feel symptoms during the test.
When you return the monitor, a trained therapist reviews the results. Then, a heart doctor reviews the recording and creates a report.
This test is a safe, reliable way to help your care team understand how your heart is working.
This test helps find out if you need home oxygen support based on how your body responds to activity. During the test, you get medical air and oxygen while you walk. You are monitored by a registered respiratory therapist.
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test is a type of blood test. It can check:
The results show how well your lungs, heart, and body are working. You might need this test to get the province or your private insurance to pay for the cost of home oxygen.
This test can also help find different medical problems, such as:
If you get oxygen therapy, it can show how well your treatment is working and if any changes are needed.
The bronchial challenge test helps your care team find out if you have asthma and how severe it is.
During the test, you breathe into a mouthpiece with your nose closed. We give you gradually increasing amounts of a medicine called methacholine. It acts like a natural substance released during allergic reactions. If your airway reacts to it, it will be harder to breathe.
We take measurements before and after you breathe in the medicine. The results show us how well air moves through your lungs.
You can stop the test at any time, especially if you get symptoms like:
If you start having symptoms, we will give you treatment for them.
This test helps find the cause of shortness of breath during physical activity. It can show whether the issue is related to the heart, lungs, blood circulation, or general fitness.
During the test, you will ride a stationary bike while our team monitors your:
The results help your care team understand what is making physical activity hard for you. This information helps them plan the best care and treatment.
Exercise oximetry tests how much oxygen is in your blood when you are at rest and while you walk. It checks how your oxygen levels change with activity. Your care team might use the results to guide your care if you have a lung condition or to see if you need oxygen therapy.
During the test, you wear a small sensor called a pulse oximeter. We monitor you while you walk and ask questions about your energy level and breathing. The test can last from 20 minutes to one hour depending on your condition and how you feel.
Pulmonary function tests are a group of breathing tests. They show how well your lungs are working. These tests help your care team diagnose or monitor lung conditions like:
During the tests, you breathe in and out through a mouthpiece while you sit in a clear booth. The results help measure how much air your lungs can hold and how well they move air in and out.
The six-minute walk test measures how much physical activity your body can handle. The results help your care team understand how well your heart and lungs are working. They also show how your condition may be affecting your daily activities.
During the test, you wear a small sensor called a pulse oximeter. We monitor you while you walk along a marked path for six minutes. The goal is to walk as far as you can at your own pace. While you walk, we ask you questions about your energy level and breathing. You can slow down or stop to rest if you need to.
Spirometry is a simple and common test that checks how well your lungs are working. It measures how much air you can breathe out and how fast you can do it.
During the test, you blow into a mouthpiece connected to a machine called a spirometer. It records your breathing and may print the results on a chart, called a spirogram.
This test helps your care team understand your lung health. It can also diagnose or monitor conditions like asthma or COPD.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the electrical activity of your brain.
During the test, small electrodes are placed on your scalp with a special paste. The technologist may ask you to:
They will also ask about your health history to understand why you need the test.
Often, a video camera records your body movements at the same time as the EEG records your brain waves. This helps doctors get a clearer picture to diagnose and treat your condition.
Electromyography (EMG) tests how your nerves and muscles are working.
It checks how well your muscles respond when your nerves send signals. It helps your care team find out if there are problems with how signals travel through your body. The test is safe and may involve small sticky sensors or tiny needles placed on your skin.
Medical imaging creates detailed pictures of the inside of your body. These tests can show things like:
It helps your care team diagnose and monitor health conditions.
If you have a medical imaging test between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., please check in at medical imaging reception when you arrive. If your test is after 9 p.m., enter through the Emergency Department. Follow the signs to the Medical Imaging Department.
WRHN offers a full range of breast imaging services at the Waterloo Wellington Breast Centre. The team uses the latest technology to find and diagnose health problems early.
A computerized tomography (CT) scan uses special x-rays to take detailed pictures inside your body. It is more advanced than a regular x-ray. A CT scan can create two- or three-dimensional images to help your care team see more clearly.
Some CT scans use a special dye called contrast media to make certain areas of your body easier to see. It is given through an injection into your vein.
Some people have an allergic reaction to contrast media. If you have had a mild or moderate reaction in the past, your doctor will need to order medicine for you. If you have had a severe reaction, your doctor will work with your radiologist to plan your care safely.
Interventional radiology treats patients without traditional surgery. It uses special imaging and tiny tubes, called catheters to do procedures. This approach is less invasive, which often means you recover faster and experience fewer risks.
The interventional radiology suite supports many programs within WRHN and the wider community, including Renal/Kidney and Cancer. This includes by:
Your care team will include an interventional radiologist, a technologist, and a nurse. They will give you medicine or local numbing for the procedure. This will help keep you comfortable and limit your pain. Because of these medicines, you will not be able to drive after. Please arrange for a family member or friend to take you home.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan takes detailed pictures inside of your body. It uses a strong magnet, radio waves, and a computer. Scans usually take 20 minutes to one hour depending on the type of scan your doctor ordered.
Certain MRI scans use a special dye given through an IV. It helps certain areas show up more clearly.
Some people have an allergic reaction to the dye. If you have had a mild or moderate reaction in the past, your doctor will need to order medicine for you. If you have had a severe reaction, your doctor will work with a radiologist to plan your care safely.
You also need to remove all metal objects from your body before your scan. This includes jewelry and any piercings. If you have a new tattoo, you must wait at least 48 hours before getting your scan.
The information below can help you prepare:
If you have questions about your MRI, please speak with your care team.
Nuclear medicine can help diagnose or treat certain health conditions. The results help your care team see how your body is working and find any problems.
These tests use small amounts of a safe substance called a radiopharmaceutical. It travels to specific parts of your body, like your bones, organs, or tissues. This helps us take pictures using a special camera called a gamma camera. The amount of radiation used in nuclear medicine is very low and is considered safe.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of your body. It is a safe way to look at organs and soft tissues without using ionizing radiation.
Trained ultrasound technologists perform many types of scans at WRHN. These include scans of the:
We provide digital X-ray services to help diagnose a wide range of health concerns. X-rays are available for patients who are:
If you have an appointment, please bring the completed requisition from your doctor. This is required to get your X-ray.
When you come for tests and imaging, please bring:
Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for registration.
