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News - Fisher-Titus Medical Center, Norwalk Ohio USA |
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| Fisher-Titus Medical Center |
| What's Your Score? New Screening Adds It Up! |
| Date : - 03/05/2009 |
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Heart attacks often come with no warning. But CT Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring, a high-tech screening now being offered by the FTMC Snyder/White Heart & Vascular Center, may provide some advance notice of problems.
In December, Fisher-Titus Medical Center and FTMC’s Chief of Radiology Dr. Matthew Gutowicz initiated the new screenings by providing Norwalk firefighters and police officers and Huron County law enforcement officers complimentary screenings.
This non-invasive screening uses FTMC’s 64-slice CT scanner to locate and measure calcified plaque in coronary arteries – the vessels that take blood to the heart muscle.
"Plaque can, over time, narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart muscle. By detecting it in the earliest, most treatable stage, patients and their physicians can take steps to reduce heart disease risk," Dr. Gutowicz said.
Because the Calcium Scoring Screening is not useful for persons at low or high risk for heart disease, patients are pre-assessed using the American Heart Association Heart Attack Risk Assessor. If the assessment indicates an intermediate risk, the patient can be scheduled for the screening. The Calcium Scoring is performed on FTMC’s 64-slice CT. Because the scanner is so fast, it captures multiple images synchronized with the heart beat cycle, resulting in clear pictures of the heart and its vessels with minimal exposure to radiation. The actual scan takes only a few minutes. After the procedure the patient is able to leave and resume normal activities.
Board Certified Radiologists Dr. Gutowicz and Dr. William Ferber read and interpret the scans. A registered nurse of the Snyder/White Heart & Vascular Center follows up with each patient to review the results. With this information, the patient’s physician can recommend appropriate treatment, including diet and lifestyle changes, medication, or further testing if needed.
CT Calcium Scoring should not be confused with CT Angiography. CT Angiography is a more elaborate test that provides detailed images of the coronary arteries. It is not a screening and the procedure must be ordered by a physician.
The fee for a Calcium Scoring Screening is $150. Payment is requested at the time of the screening. Patients are given a receipt to submit to their insurance company if the screening is covered. Persons participating in flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts may be able to obtain reimbursement for the screening. |
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| Reference : - www.fisher-titus.com |
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