Understanding Your Imaging Referral with Ron

Ron is Radly's referral scanner - a friendly robot (named after Wilhelm Röntgen, who discovered X-rays - read the full story here) who reads your imaging referral and explains it to you in simple, everyday language. Instead of trying to decode medical terminology and abbreviations yourself, you can upload or photograph your referral and Ron will tell you:

• What type of scan has been ordered • Which body part is being examined • Why your doctor ordered it (in plain English) • What to expect during the scan • Whether preparation is needed • How to find clinics that perform this scan near you

It's like having a knowledgeable friend who can look at your referral and say "here's what this means and here's what happens next" - without the jargon.

Using Ron to understand your referral is simple:

1. Open Ron on your phone or computer 2. Take a photo of your referral or upload an image (JPG or PNG) 3. Ron analyses the document and identifies key information 4. You receive a plain-English explanation of your referral within seconds

Ron identifies the scan type, body part, clinical indication, and urgency noted by your doctor. He then matches this information to our comprehensive imaging guides so you can learn more about your specific scan.

For example, if your referral says "MRI L-spine - ?disc herniation, radiculopathy L4/5" - Ron would explain: "Your doctor has ordered an MRI scan of your lower back. They suspect a herniated (bulging) disc that may be pressing on a nerve at the L4/5 level, which could be causing your leg pain or numbness."

When you upload your referral, Ron identifies and explains:

• Scan type - whether it's an X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or another modality • Body region - exactly which part of your body is being scanned and why that area is relevant to your symptoms • Clinical indication - translated from medical shorthand into plain English (see our guide on what clinical indication means) • Urgency - whether your doctor has marked the scan as urgent or routine

For details like contrast dye requirements and preparation instructions, your imaging clinic will confirm everything when they book you in.

Ron doesn't replace medical advice from your doctor - he helps you understand what you've already been told so you can prepare confidently and ask informed questions.

Yes. Radly takes patient privacy seriously:

• Your referral data is processed securely and encrypted in transit • We don't store your referral images permanently - they're processed and then deleted • Your personal health information is never shared with third parties for marketing • Radly complies with Australian privacy legislation including the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles

The AI tool is designed to help you understand your referral - not to store or share your medical records. You can read our full privacy policy for complete details on how we handle your data.

If you prefer not to upload your referral digitally, you can still use our written guides to understand each section manually. Start with our how to read your imaging referral guide.

While Ron is helpful for understanding referrals, it's important to know his limitations:

• He cannot provide medical advice or diagnose conditions • He cannot tell you whether the scan your doctor ordered is appropriate • He cannot interpret your scan results (that's the radiologist's job - see our guide on understanding scan results) • He cannot replace a conversation with your doctor about your health concerns • He may not correctly interpret very poor-quality images or illegible handwriting

If you have questions about why a scan was ordered or what the results mean, always discuss with your referring doctor. Ron helps bridge the gap between receiving a referral and attending your appointment - ensuring you arrive informed and prepared.

Understanding and scanning your referral are two sides of the same Ron:

• He explains what your referral means - the scan type, body region, and clinical reason, translated into plain English. • He helps you find where to book - once your referral is read, Ron shows you clinics near you that perform that exact scan.

So you don't need to choose between understanding your referral and finding a clinic - one scan gives you both. Learn more in our Scan Your Referral guide, or open Ron to try it with a photo of your referral.