Shortly after arriving in Spain, I accidentally twisted my arm while exercising, and it swelled up like a balloon. My family doctor recommended I go to the hospital for a scan to check for any bone damage. I was stumped at that moment. How do you even say “get a scan” in Spanish? I couldn’t just mime it to the doctor! After some trial and error, I finally figured it out. Today, I’m sharing my experience with getting medical imaging done in a Spanish hospital, hoping it can help others in need.
Common Medical Imaging Terms in Spanish
First, we need to know the proper names for these ‘scans,’ or communicating with doctors can be a real struggle. I’ve compiled a handy vocabulary list, and you can find more Spanish medical imaging vocabulary here for you to save:
| English Name | Spanish Name | Common Term / Abbreviation |
|---|
| X-ray | Rayos X / Radiografía | Una radiografía |
| Ultrasound | Ecografía | Una eco |
| CT Scan | Tomografía Computarizada | Un TAC |
| MRI | Resonancia Magnética | Una resonancia |
| Bone Density Scan | Densitometría ósea | Una densitometría |
Remembering these keywords will help you understand what test the doctor is ordering. In my case, the referral clearly stated una radiografía de brazo (an arm X-ray).
Navigating the Healthcare Process
I went through the public healthcare system. The first step is to book an appointment with your family doctor (médico de familia) at your local health center (centro de salud). After a brief consultation and physical examination, if the doctor deems an imaging test necessary, they will issue a referral slip called a volante. With this slip, you can go to the designated hospital’s appointment desk (Citación) or the radiology department’s front desk to schedule your scan. Nowadays, many places also allow you to book by phone or through an app, which is much more convenient.
The process in a private hospital is much faster. If you have private health insurance, you can directly book an appointment with a specialist, like an orthopedist. They can order the scan and have it done in the same hospital, often on the same day or within a few days. But the cost… well, you know how it is. So, if you don’t have private insurance, it’s best to stick with the public system.
Useful Phrases and Things to Note
When you get to the radiology department, knowing a few simple phrases can be helpful, and you might also be curious about Spanish medical imaging prices:
Hello, I’m here to schedule a scan.
Hola, vengo para pedir una cita para una radiografía/un TAC…
Hello, I have an appointment at [time] for a…
Hola, tengo una cita a las… para…
When it’s your turn, the technician will guide you. The most common instructions you’ll hear are: “Quítese la ropa/los objetos metálicos” (Take off your clothes/any metal objects), “No se mueva” (Don’t move), and “Respire hondo y contenga la respiración” (Take a deep breath and hold it). Understanding these few phrases will get you through it just fine.
One last tip: you won’t get the results immediately after the scan. In the public system, the report is usually uploaded to your personal health portal a few days later, where your family doctor can access it. You can then book another appointment with your doctor to go over the results. I hope my experience can be of some help to you all. Wishing everyone good health in Spain—may you never have to use these words! 💪
