Diagnostic Cardiology

St. Clair Health offers a full range of diagnostic testing, including ECG, holter monitoring, event recording, echocardiogram, cardiac CT angiography, and nuclear stress tests.

ECG

Also known as a cardiogram. It is a simple test that records a “snapshot” of the electrical activity of the heart. From this recording, a cardiologist can determine the rhythm of the heart, as well as whether there has been any injury to heart muscle.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) testing is available without an appointment. Hours of operation at the St. Clair Hospital site are as follows:

Monday and Tuesday:  7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:  7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday:  8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Stress Tests

Records how well the heart functions when it is forced to work harder. For patients who can safely exercise, walking on a treadmill will produce the desired effect. For patients unable to exercise, certain medications that mimic the effect of exercise on the heart might be administered. The information from a stress test is used to diagnose coronary artery disease.

Stress testing requires an appointment and a physician prescription.

To schedule an appointment for an Echo Stress Test, please call 412.942.3060

Test may require prior insurance authorization. An appointment and physician prescription is required.

Nuclear Stress Tests

Typically, getting a nuclear stress test takes about four hours, including two rounds of about 20-30 minutes in a nuclear camera. With the new D-SPECT Nuclear Cardiac Camera, they’re sitting upright in a tiltable chair, with their arms more comfortably positioned. The images are typically obtained in just 2 to 4 minutes. It also requires a much smaller dose of the radioactive tracer that’s injected into patients.

To schedule an appointment for a Nuclear Perfusion Stress Test, please call 412.942.3060

Test may require prior insurance authorization. An appointment and physician prescription is required.

Echocardiogram

A test that uses sound waves to examine the heart. The echo provides pictures of the heart’s size, motion and valve function. From these pictures, a cardiologist can evaluate the overall functioning of the heart. All of St. Clair’s echocardiographers are registered with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and the echo lab is accredited by The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditations of Echocardiographic Laboratories.

Echocardiogram services are available by appointment only, and a physician prescription is required. To schedule an appointment, please call 412.942.3060.

Test may require prior insurance authorization. An appointment and physician prescription is required.

Cardiac CT Angiography (CTA)

CTA is a specialized non invasive exam made possible by advanced high speed 64 slice computed tomography techniques minimizing heart motion to create high resolution images of the heart and coronary vessels.

Holter Monitoring

Records the electrical activity of the heart over a continuous 24-hour or 48-hour period while the patient goes about his or her daily activities. It is used to diagnose any abnormal heart rhythms.

Event Recording

A method of recording the heart rhythm during symptoms or an “event.” A small portable monitor is worn over a period of days. When symptoms are present, the wearer presses a button and the device records and stores the heart’s electrical activity during the event. It is designed to aid physicians in difficult to diagnose symptoms including palpitations, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness and syncope. Monitoring services require an appointment and a physician prescription.

More Information

For more information on Diagnostic Cardiology Services, please call 412.942.3060.