Personal Health Care offers the convenience of the availability of many diagnostic tests, blood draws, and x-ray upon your doctor visit. 

LAB SERVICES AVAILABLE IN ALL PERSONAL HEALTH CARE OFFICES 
Personal Health Care provides the convenience of the following in office services:
Blood draws
X-ray
Pulmonary Function Testing

Ear Lavage

ECHOCARDIOGRAM

An echocardiogram (ECHO) is a sonogram of the heart.  In addition to creating two-dimensional pictures of the cardiovascular system, an echocardiogram can also produce accurate assessment of the velocity of blood and cardiac tissue using pulses or continuous waves which allows assessment of cardiac valve areas and heart function.  The biggest advantage to echocardiogram is that it is noninvasive and has no know risks or side effects.  It evaluates the architecture and function of the heart.

Echocardiogram assists in the diagnostic findings of:
Cardiovascular diseases. 
Assess the heart’s pumping capacity and location and extent of any damage to its tissues.
Assessing diseases of the heart valves.
Allows doctors to evaluate the heart valves and detect abnormalities in the pattern of
blood flow such as the backward flow of blood through partly closed heart valves
called regurgitation.
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)

CAROTID ULTRASOUND AND DOPPLER EXAMINATION

Carotid ultrasound is a painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the insides of the two large arteries in your neck.

These arteries, called carotid arteries, supply your brain with oxygen-rich blood.  There is one carotid artery on each side of your neck.

A standard carotid ultrasound shows the structure of your carotid arteries.  Carotid ultrasound shows whether a substance called plaque has narrowed your carotid arteries.  Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood.  This condition is called carotid artery disease. 

Too much plaque in a carotid artery can cause a stroke.  The plaque can slow down or block the flow of blood through the artery, allowing a clot to form.  A piece of the blood clot can break off and get stuck in the artery, blocking blood flow to the brain.  This is what causes a stroke. 

Your carotid ultrasound test will include a Doppler ultrasound.  Doppler ultrasound is a special test that shows the movement of blood through your blood vessels.

The results from both types of ultrasound allow the full assessment of blood flow through the carotid arteries.

VASCULAR DOPPLER EXAMINATION

Lower Arterial Doppler – study of circulation in the legs

Lower Venous Doppler – checks for blood clots and venous insufficiency

EKG – Electrocardiography

Electrocardiography (EKG) is a recording of electrical activity of the heart over a period of time.  Electrodes are attached to the outer surface of the skin (across the chest) and record the electrical activity of the heart by a device external to the body.  With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom.  As it travels, the signal causes the heart to contract and pump blood.  The process repeats with each new heartbeat.  The heart’s electrical signals set the rhythm of the heartbeat.  The recording of the heart’s electrical activity, produced by this noninvasive procedure, is termed an electrocardiogram. 

An EKG shows:

How fast your heart is beating
Whether the rhythm of your heartbeat is steady or irregular
The strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of your heart
Test results can also suggest other disorders that affect heart function

ICG – IMPEDANCE CARDIOGRAPHY TEST

The ICG test is a completely noninvasive test that can be performed to provide information about your heart’s ability to deliver blood to the rest of your body, the force your heart has to pump against each heartbeat, and the amount of fluid in your chest. 

The ICG does not replace EKG which measures the electrical function of the heart.  The ICG tests measures the mechanical function of the heart, and provides different information than the EKG. 

The ICG helps in treatment of high blood pressure, lung disease, pacemaker, are on any cardiac drugs, and helps the physician make decisions about your drug therapy or pacemaker settings.

The ICG test is completely safe and will not cause you to feel any discomfort.  Sensors are placed on each side of your neck and chest.  A cable from the ICG monitor will then be connected to the sensors and the test takes approximately 5 minutes. 

HOLTER MONITOR

A Holter monitor is a portable device for continuously monitoring and recording various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours or more. 
The Holter monitor is a painless test.  Electrodes are placed on the chest with sticky sensor pads which are connected to a small piece of equipment (recorder) that can be attached to the patient’s belt or hung around the neck.  Once the monitor is in place, you can perform all normal activities (except showering).  You will be asked to keep a diary of your activities and any symptoms you may experience and when they occur.  The equipment is responsible for keeping a log of the heart’s electrical activity throughout the recording period.  The recorded data is then analyzed and reports any irregular heartbeats.

BONE DENSITY TESTING (Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

Bone density testing evaluates the strength of your bones by measuring your spine and hip bones in a procedure called a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).  In this test, you will lie down on a table while your body is scanned with an x-ray imager that passes overhead.  The procedure can be performed while you are fully clothed.  Your hips and spine are usually checked because they are the bones most at risk for dangerous density changes, but a scan of the radius bone in your forearm may be used as a substitute.  DEXA scanning is fast and exposes the patient to very low doses of radiation.  The information gained through bone density regarding the structural integrity and health of your bones is used to estimate the likelihood of future fractures and the possibility of the development of the progressive disease called osteoporosis.  Understanding the strength of bones can help a doctor recommend prevention steps and osteoporosis medication. 

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines, there are several groups of people who should consider bone density testing:

1. Postmenopausal women below age 65 who have risk factors for osteoporosis.
2. All women aged 65 and older.
3. Postmenopausal women with fractures; this is not mandatory because treatment may well be started regardless of bone density.
4. Woman with medical conditions associated with osteoporosis; these diseases number more than 50. 
5. Women whose decision to use medication might be aided by bone density testing.

OSTEOPOROSIS MEDICATION TREATMENTS AVAILABLE IN OFFICE:

Reclast
The once-yearly IV infusion to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.

OR

Prolia
One shot every 6 months for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis at increased risk for fractures. 

 

Some women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the first 5-7 years after menopause.  It doesn’t happen all at once but progresses gradually leaving your bones thinner and weaker as you grow older.  The first stage of this process is also known as osteopenia (low bone mass).  If left untreated, over time it may progress to the next stage of bone loss osteoporosis.  And osteoporosis can put you at greater risk of bone fracture. 

Bone loss can be treated with Reclast.  One dose of Reclast helps build bones to protect you for an entire year.  Reclast is the only FDA-approved once-a-year osteoporosis treatment.  One annual dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps to increase bone density, protecting and strengthening your bones.

EGD  -   Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
An EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is a diagnostic endoscopic procedure that allows the doctor to visualize the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract up to the duodenum.  It is considered a minimally invasive procedure since it does not require an incision into one of the major body cavities and does not require any significant recovery after the procedure (unless sedation or anesthesia has been used).  A sore throat is common. 

EGD assists in the diagnostic findings of:
Persistent dyspepsia
Heartburn and chronic acid reflux which can lead to Barrett’s esophagus
Persistent vomiting
Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
Odynophagia (painful swallowing)

STRESS TEST

Stress tests are performed to determine the amount of stress your heart can manage before developing either an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia (not enough blood flow to the heart muscle).  Cardiac stress tests are performed to assess blood flow to the heart muscle both under rest and stress conditions.  The stress response is induced by exercise or drug stimulation. 

Exercise Stress Test
Treadmill stress test – as long as you can walk and have a normal EKG, this is typically  the first stress test performed.  You walk on a treadmill while being monitored to see how far you walk and if you develop chest pain or changes in your EKG that suggest that your heart is not getting enough blood. 

Cardiolite Stress Test
Procedure for this test involves an IV being placed in the arm through which the Cardiolite is administered.  You will then wait 45 minutes while the material circulates to the heart.  A 15-minute scan follows.  The nurse will then prepare you for the stress portion of the test by placing electrodes on your chest and obtaining a resting EKG.  Next, you will walk on the treadmill and a second dose of Cardiolite will be put into the IV.  When you are done walking the electrodes and the IV will be removed.  You will then lie down for a second scan of your heart which takes approximately 10 minutes and the test will be complete. 

Lexiscan Stress Test With Nuclear Imaging
Procedure for this test involves an IV being placed in the arm through which a dose of radioisotope is administered.  You will then wait 30-45 minutes and a Nuclear Medicine Scan will be performed.  After the scan, electrodes will be placed on your chest to record an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm to monitor blood pressure.  You will be given a medication that dilates the arteries in your heart, increasing blood flow.  The medication is infused through your IV for 1 minute.  During this infusion, you will receive another injection of radioisotope.  Your EKG and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the test.  You will have a second Nuclear Medicine Scan then test will be complete. 

Insurance accepted:

Most insurance plans accepted.
Please call office to check on your individual insurance plan.

If you should need further assistance, have questions, or would like to schedule an appointment please give us a call at 248-541-2512.