Work top to bottom. Don't jump ahead; each step depends on the one above.
Patient ID. First visit: sight the Medicare card and photo ID (driver licence, passport, proof-of-age). Returning patient: confirm full name + DOB verbally, then match against the record. Never just ask "are you {name}?" — people will say yes.
Referral validity. Confirm the referral is in date: 12 months from date signed for GP referrals, 3 months for specialist referrals (counted from the date of the first service). Check the clinical indication matches what's booked.
Scan / appointment type. Read back what they're booked for: "So today you're here for a {body region}{modality} — is that right?" Catches wrong-side and wrong-modality bookings before they hit the scanner.
Consent forms. Where applicable — contrast consent for CT/MRI with contrast, MRI safety questionnaire for any MRI, pregnancy declaration where required by modality. Hand them the form, show them where to sign, don't fill it in for them.
Contact details + emergency contact. "Can I just check we've got your current mobile and an emergency contact on file?" Update anything stale. Results and callbacks depend on this being right.
Estimated wait time. Give them a real number before they sit down: "We're running about {minutes} behind today — the radiographer will call your name."