AETNA Arcadian Health Plans Beech Street Blue Cross Blue shield CIGNA Community Care GEHA Health Choice Humana Humana Military Insure Oklahoma (O-EPIC)	Mail Handlers MEDICARE Oklahoma Department of Corrections Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Oklahoma MEDICAID (OKHCA and SOONERCARE) OSMA Pacificare PHCS PHCS PPO	PPO USA Prudential QTC Railroad Medicare Sterling TRICARE for Life TRICARE Standard United Healthcare Worknet
and many other insurance plans (please call to check on your specific plan)

CARDIOLOGY SERVICES INCLUDE:

 

Diabetic Education - Diabetes education focuses on ways to incorporate disease management principles into the individual's daily life and minimize dependence on the health care provider. There are three areas that Diabetic Educators focus, basic disease management including basic survivor skills, home management, and improvement of lifestyle. Our diabetic education classes are designed for both the newly diagnosed diabetic and those who need additional help controlling their diabetic disease.

 

Nuclear Medicine - Cardiology - Our state-of-the-art Nuclear Laboratory performs several types of cardiovascular diagnostic tests. With the use of hi-tech computers, we can analyze relative blood flow and global function of the heart muscle. A nuclear stress test is similar to an exercise stress test, but it is more accurate since it uses SPECT scans in addition to a traditional exercise stress test. It allows your doctor to look at your heart's reaction to stress, either through exercise or with medications. A clearer picture of heart health is given, but the use of radioactive substances during the test prevent physicians from using this as a replacement to exercise stress tests. A radioactive substance, known as an isotope, is injected into the blood, where it travels to the heart. By using a special monitor, your doctor can create a picture of your heart. This test is especially useful if you have suffered from a heart attack, have a blood clot, or have symptoms of coronary artery disease. Read More Here...

Treadmill Exercise Testing - A type of stress test that is conducted on a treadmill using various walking protocols. Depending on the patient, your cardiologist may opt to select a more sophisticated test by using heart images for obtaining more information about your heart.

 

Echocardiography (Echo) - An echocardiogram is a simple, yet very essential, non-invasive test that uses two-dimensional, Doppler, M-mode, and color flow ultrasonic imaging for the assessment of chamber size and function, valve function, physiological information (blood flow velocities, gradients and pressures) and other important disorders such as congenital defects.

 

Stress Echo - This type of imaging stress test combines the use of a walking treadmill coupled with echo (ultrasound) pictures of the heart before and after exercise which are then processed by a special computer. For patients who have difficulty on a treadmill, a "pharmacological" (Dobutamine, Dipyridamole, Adenosine) stress echo would substitute the treadmill. In our experience, the use of these FDA-approved drugs is well tolerated by the patient.

 

Vascular Studies - These non-invasive tests are beneficial in the assessment of peripheral vascular disease or circulation disorders. Using various ultrasound and pressure recording techniques, the arteries and veins of the extremities can be studied. In addition, these exams can identify abnormalities in the carotid arteries of the neck and also abdominal aorta.

 

Digital ABI - Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. Measurements are usually repeated at both sites after 5 minutes of walking on a treadmill. This test is done to screen for peripheral arterial disease of the legs. It is also used to see how well a treatment is working (such as medical treatment, an exercise program, angioplasty, or surgery). The ABI result can help diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which may be linked to a higher risk for heart attack or stroke.

Electrocardiogram (EKG) - The heart operates by receiving electrical impulses which regulate its rhythm. If your doctor suspects an irregularity with your heart's rhythm or beat, he might order an electrocardiogram (EKG). An electrocardiogram is a test that measures that electrical activity. The results are displayed as a wave on either a strip of paper or a video screen. By examining the wave pattern, your doctor can see the timing and type of the electrical impulses and use it to see the rhythm and heart rate. Underlying problems with the heart can also be noticed with an electrocardiogram. The results from your first EKG will be used by your doctor to compare future electrocardiogram readings to see if any changes took place which might indicate a problem.

 

Holter Monitoring - The heart uses electrical impulses to tell the chambers when to contract to pump blood throughout your body, by measuring these impulses, your doctor can determine if your heart is functioning properly. Sometimes, an in office electrocardiogram (EKG) might be taken, but this only gives a brief snapshot of your heart's health. For a clearer picture of how your heart's rhythm changes throughout the day, your doctor could ask for continuous monitoring for a day or two using a Holter monitor. These record your heart patterns throughout your daily activities. Holter monitors are portable EKGs, and like EKGs are painless. The results given from one will be a more accurate reflection of your average heart rhythm than a single reading taken in your doctor's office.

 

Event Recording - A patient-activated Event Recorder is used for an extended period of time and helpful in the evaluation of sporadic cardiac symptoms or events. The heart uses electrical impulses to tell the chambers when to contract to pump blood throughout your body, by measuring these impulses, your doctor can determine if your heart is functioning properly. Sometimes, an in office electrocardiogram (EKG) might be taken, but this only gives a brief snapshot of your heart's health. For a clearer picture of how your heart's rhythm changes throughout the day, your doctor could ask for continuous monitoring for several days or up to a month using an event recorder. These record your heart patterns throughout your daily activities. Event recorders are portable EKGs, and like EKGs are painless.

 

Cardiac Rehabilitation - Cardiac rehab is a program designed specifically for you and your medical needs. It includes exercise, lifestyle changes, education, and emotional support. It can help improve your health and enable you to live a more active life after you have had a heart attack or heart surgery or if you have a long-term heart problem such as heart failure. Cardiac rehab can also help you return to work safely and in a timely manner.

 

Coumadin Clinic - Safe use of the anticoagulant, Coumadin, requires careful monitoring and regulation of the drug. Here in our Coumadin Clinic we understand the importance of providing such a service to meet the needs of patients taking Coumadin. The Coumadin clinic is under the supervision of our cardiologists and other physicians. We have a committed staff consisting of experienced nurses and technicians. We have an on site lab where the finger-stick method is all that is needed to obtain your Protime blood results in a quick two minutes. This service is offered by appointment to help expedite your visit. Counseling and educational materials to help you achieve and maintain appropriate Coumadin levels is provided.

 

Pacer & ICD Clinic - There are several tests that can be performed to evaluate your pacemaker or ICD. Many of the routine pacer and ICD checks are done via telephone transmission from the patient's home. Periodically, the patient may need to come to the office for a more formal interrogation or for computerized reprogramming of the device.

 

Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) - EECP therapy is a safe, non-invasive, outpatient treatment option for patients suffering from ischemic heart diseases such as angina and heart failure and who are typically no longer candidates for bypass surgery or other cardiac invasive procedures.  Treatment regimens involve therapy one hour per day for 7 weeks and clinical studies show that more than 75% of patients benefit from EECP therapy.

 

Plain Film Radiology - This test helps in the initial evaluation and follow-up of numerous soft tissue or skeletal conditions.

 

Laboratory - For your convenience, we offer a full service accredited laboratory with credentialed personnel and modern equipment to ensure the highest quality of testing.

 

PFT (spirometery only) - Lung function tests (also called pulmonary function tests, or PFTs) evaluate how well your lungs work. The tests determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. The tests can diagnose lung diseases, measure the severity of lung problems, and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working.

 

Cardiac Catheterization - Cardiac catheterization (sometimes called an angiogram) is a specialized test which is useful in the evaluation of heart disease. The presence or lack of coronary artery disease as well as the specific location and severity of coronary lesions can be determined with cardiac catheterization. This procedure is able to determine the function of heart chambers, valves, and other cardiac structures. This test can also measure the different pressures and gradients within the heart. Cardiac catheterization is relatively safe and is typically associated with very low morbidity and mortality.

 

Pacemaker - A pacemaker is a small device that is placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. Pacemakers send electrical impulses to either the atria (upper chambers), ventricles (lower chambers), or both to maintain a normal heart rate and rhythm. Pacemakers can help to prevent symptoms and complications of the arrhythmia, such as fatigue, fainting, shortness of breath, and even death.

Defibrillator (ICD) implant - Your doctor might recommend a defibrillator implant if your heart rate is too fast or abnormal. The job of a defibrillator implant is to monitor and regulate your heart rate. Sometimes, your heart might begin beating so quickly that it becomes inefficient. When this happens, the defibrillator detects it, and sends an electric shock to the heart to reset it back to a normal rhythm. After having a defibrillator implant, you will be able to live a full, normal life. You will have your defibrillator implant monitored by your doctor when you visit, and medications to regulate your heart might also be prescribed. Defibrillator implants are built similarly to pacemakers with a generator, electrodes, and leads. The electrodes are attached to the ventricles of the heart and attached to the generator with the leads. The generator can be programmed by your doctor to treat your particular condition.

Transesophageal Echo - This type of echocardiogram, also known as TEE, is performed by inserting a small flexible tube with an ultra-sound transducer into the esophagus (similar to an endoscopy) after the throat is numbed with a local anesthetic spray and the patient receives mild intravenous sedation. This 15-20 minute examination provides accurate detailed information on different heart structures.

 

Other - At times, your physician may recommend other types of in-hospital tests to evaluate a variety of medical conditions or symptoms. Your physician will discuss the specific indications and tests with you.