Diagnostic Tests
Get the information and professional medical guidance you need to make informed choices about your health. Trust the experts at VHC Health for cardiovascular diagnostic testing.
Many factors depend on the type of test needed to find the cause of symptoms or monitor an existing condition. Rest assured our team will provide accurate, prompt results, answer your questions and help you take any needed next steps.
Heart-Health Tests
Take advantage of the most accurate cardiac testing options and the expertise of our team to analyze the results. We offer:
- Echocardiogram – creates pictures of the heart to check how well it pumps
- Stress echocardiogram – takes ultrasound images of the heart in action when you exercise on a treadmill or get medication to simulate the effects of exercise to assess how well your heart works
- Transesophageal echocardiogram – inserts a long, slender, flexible tube (endoscope) into the esophagus, to produce a highly detailed heart image with no internal structures to obstruct the view
- Transthoracic echocardiogram – uses ultrasound to produce an image of the heart's structure and function, to evaluate the heart walls and valves and measure pressures in different heart chambers
- Exercise stress test – shows how well your heart responds to exercising on a treadmill or medications that mimic the effects of exercise, by monitoring EKG, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels, allowing your doctor to detect changes
- Lab tests – check a sample of blood or other bodily substance for signs of a health problem
- Nuclear stress test – uses radioactive material to look for blockages in the heart arteries during exercise on a treadmill or pharmacological agents to stress the heart. Radio-isotopes are injected and images of the heart are obtained.
- SmartScore™ – uses computed tomography (CT) scan imaging technology to detect calcium deposits in the arteries
Heart Rhythm Tests
To diagnose an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), you may have:
- Electrocardiogram, or EKG –measures the heart’s electrical activity to look for signs of heart disease and abnormal heart activity
- Electrophysiology (EP) study – tests the heart’s electrical activity
- Heart monitoring – tracks your heart’s activity through a wearable device such as a Loop recorder or Holter monitor
- Tilt-table testing – looks for the cause of a fast heartbeat or fainting by changing your position quickly to see if your heart rate and blood pressure are affected
Heart Failure Monitor
If you have congestive heart failure, your cardiologist may recommend placing an implantable monitor in an artery. At VHC Health, our team has experience successfully placing the CardioMEMS® device, a piece of advanced technology that safely and reliably sends data about your heart condition to your doctors. Ask your cardiologist if this option may help you manage symptoms, prevent complications and avoid emergency hospitalizations.
Vascular Tests
To gain insight into the health of your blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries), you may receive:
- Ankle-brachial index – compares the blood pressure reading from your arm with a reading from your ankle to check for peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Doppler ultrasound – measures blood flow through the veins or arteries using ultrasound
- Arterial Doppler – evaluates arterial blood flow to the arms and legs
- Carotid Doppler – looks for plaque, blood clots, or other problems with blood flow in the carotid artery (in the neck, supplies blood to the brain) to check for your stroke risk
- Venous Doppler – assesses for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots, inflammation of the superficial veins and venous insufficiency
- Pulse volume recording – looks at blood flow through the arteries to find signs of a blockage
Late Cancellation & No-Show
At VHC Health, we recognize the importance of our patients’ time and are committed to providing efficient and timely care. By giving us advance notice, you help us accommodate as many patients as possible and minimize disruptions to the schedule.
The Heart Station is now requiring advance notice for appointment changes or late cancellations. This notice helps us accommodate as many patients as possible and minimizes disruptions to our patient schedule. Failure to notify us less than 48 business hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time, or failure to show for your scheduled appointment, may result in a late cancellation or no-show fee of $100.
Your Treatment Plan
Access comprehensive cardiovascular care with a personalized approach. Count on your VHC Health team for treatments like:
