What is Event Monitoring?
Together with LifeWatch, the Greeley Medical Clinic is now providing the most advanced arrhythmia monitoring and rhythm management service to ensure patients receive the comprehensive and compassionate cardiac care they deserve.
Our new monitors are a state-of-the-art ambulatory cardiac telemetry system providing “anytime, anywhere” arrhythmia monitoring. With this new service, physicians and providers will be able to monitor patients for 7 to 31 days. Summary reports will be available daily or weekly depending on preference and can be accessed anytime.
Features of this new service include: patient-friendly functionality for improved compliance, 31 days of retrievable ECG memory, remotely programmable, and automatically recorded and transmitted daily recordings. This will be best used for asymptomatic/symptomatic AF, syncope, conductive disorders, tachycardia/bradycardia, post procedure, and medication titration.
What is an EKG?
A standard 12 lead EKG is a diagnostic test to determine the flow of electricity within the heart. EKG tests are often used in cases of hypertension, previous cardiac conditions, preoperative screening, and current medical conditions.
What is the difference between a holter and event monitor?
A holter monitor is worn by a patient for a 24 hour period. It records every heartbeat within that period and is reviewed by our staff and prepared for the doctor’s interpretation. Indications for this monitor includes: palpitations, fainting spells, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats.
What is an Exercise Tolerance Test (Stress/Treadmill Test)?
This test is used to screen for active Heart Disease and to monitor those patients who have already been diagnosed. It is also used to screen those patients who have a strong family history of heart disease and also to determine a patient’s tolerance to exercise. Treatments are planned according to the results of the test. These treatments may include: beginning a nutrition/exercise program, further cardiac testing up to and including cardiac catheterization. A standard 12 lead EKG is used during the test while we increase the patient’s heart rate by having them walk on a treadmill. The patient’s physician is present for this testing procedure.
What is Echocardiography?
This is a specialized ultrasound of the heart, much like a pregnant woman would have to look at her unborn baby. It is used to look at the function of the valves, blood flow, and muscle function of the heart. This is a non-invasive test that takes approximately one hour to complete. The technician records the test and is interpreted later by the patient’s cardiologist.
Services are provided based on a referral from the primary care physician. Our staff works with all of the physicians to assist them with special testing of the heart, as well as, patient education in the prevention of heart disease. Our staff also works with patients at risk for heart disease on exercise prescriptions and lifestyle adaptations.
