| Q: | How many people work at RAS? |
| A: | Over 900.
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| Q: | How long has RAS been in business? |
| A: | RAS has been serving the greater Sacramento area since 1917.
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| Q: | How do I know if RAS accepts my insurance? |
| A: | Please visit www.rasforme.com/insurance or call the RAS billing line at (916) 646-8520 or toll free 1-800-787-0460, M-F between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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| Q: | How many locations does RAS have? |
| A: | 12 Diagnostic Facilities, 5 PET / Nuclear Medicine Facilities, 5 Interventional / Interventional Neuroradiology Departments & Clinics, 5 Surgical Specialty Facilities and 6 Radiation Oncology Centers
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| Q: | What do I do if my insurance was not billed for my recent service? |
| A: | Please call the RAS billing line at (916) 646-8520 or toll free 1-800-787-0460, M-F between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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| Q: | Can I set up an interview with one of your physicians? |
| A: | Yes. RAS welcomes the opportunity to work with the media.
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| Q: | How do I take part in a clinical trial? |
| A: | Each study has a strict set of guidelines, called eligibility criteria, that help the investigator choose who is a good candidate for a study. To make sure that a treatment works, researchers want study participants to be alike in key ways. Examples of eligibility criteria for a treatment trial might be a particular type and stage of cancer, age, gender, or groups of patients who previously have been treated for cancer. To find out if you are eligible for a particular study, talk to your doctor or the research staff in charge of enrolling patients for the study.
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| Q: | Will my insurance cover the costs of my treatment if I take part in a clinical trial? |
| A: | There is a State of California bill called SB-37 that requires insurers to pay for routine patient care costs such as doctor visits, hospital stays, clinical laboratory tests, x-rays, etc., that you would receive whether or not you were participating in a clinical trial. You can read more about this at the following web site: States That Require Health Plans to Cover Patient Care Costs in Clinical Trials
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| Q: | How can I find out what clinical trials are available? |
| A: | A list of available trials is listed on the RAS Website at Radiological.com, click on Cancer Treatment, then click on Clinical Trials. You can also call the Research Department at 916 454-6699 X80382 or 80383 and list of available studies can be faxed or mailed to you.
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| Q: | How do I know if my patient is a suitable candidate for a study? |
| A: | Eligibility criteria for each trial are listed on the RAS Web site. Additionally you may consult with the treating Radiation Oncologist or his Research Staff. If you have a patient that might be a candidate for a study, eligibility will be confirmed by the research staff after a patient is referred for radiation therapy.
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| Q: | How long does a course of radiation treatments usually last? |
| A: | Most radiation treatments are daily, 5 days per week, for a length from 1 to 9 weeks depending on the course that your physician prescribes.
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| Q: | Will I be able to drive after my treatment? |
| A: | Most patients are able to drive while receiving radiation treatments. However, with some types of cancer, driving may NOT be recommended. Your physician will be able to address your specific case.
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| Q: | How long does each treatment take? |
| A: | The radiation therapists, who are under the direction of your radiation oncologist, will be taking all the time necessary to ensure that you are accurately positioned for your treatment The actual time when the radiation is "on" is generally less than a minute for each treatment field. Most of the time, patients are in and out of the department in less than 30 minutes. The staff arrange the schedules to ensure that appointments are kept on time, but on some days, there may be delays because of unforeseen circumstances or emergencies.
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| Q: | What is the difference between chemotherapy and radiation therapy? |
| A: | Chemotherapy is medication that is given by injections or pills for cancer. This type of treatment is circulated throughout the entire body and is prescribed by a medical oncologist. Radiation therapy is produced by a linear accelerator or a radioactive source, and is prescribed by a radiation oncologist. The radiation beams are focused on a very specific area of the body.
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| Q: | How does the physician know how much radiation to give me? |
| A: | Through years of research and experience, there are doses that are recommended for each specific type of cancer. Your case will be thoroughly reviewed by the radiation oncologist, and a customized dose will be prescribed based on the cancer diagnosis, the cell type, and the stage of the disease.
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