The St. Joseph Hospital Heart and Vascular Center is dedicated to helping you receive the medical care necessary to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Through our comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, you can have potential health risks identified and evaluated in a personal, caring environment. Prior to your scheduled appointment, please complete the following forms and bring them with you to your appointment:
Heart Screenings
Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment $60
Our team of clinical experts will help you understand the risks associated with heart disease and what can be done to reduce them. The screening includes:
- Lipid profile (includes total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and glucose)
- 12-lead electrocardiogram
- Cardiac risk profile (report based on your risk factors)
- 50-minute consultation with a cardiac nurse
- Blood pressure and heart rate
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Physician referral as needed
- Follow-up phone calls
Heart Risk Assessment with Coronary Calcium Screening $255
Includes the following:
- Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment (shown above)
- The ultra fast Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT) Coronary Calcium Screening
Recent findings have prompted the American Heart Association and leading researchers to recommend coronary calcium screening as a predictive tool for CVD, since ruptured plaque causes 90 percent of all heart attacks. The EBCT Coronary Calcium Screening identifies the location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries of at-risk individuals. This 90-minute assessment is painless, and radiatrion exposure is minimal. No special preparation, injection or sedation is required.
Persons with moderate risk for heart disease stand to gain the most from this program. Men and women over age 35 who have even one of the following risk factors are urged to be screened:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Perpheral vascular disease
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- Smoking
Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment and Nutrition Consultation $105
This package includes all the features of the Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment plus:
- Private 30-minute consultation with a cardiac nurse for various nutrition-related concerns such as weight control, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides and good nutrition principles.
Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment and Exercise Consultation $105
This package includes all the features of the Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment plus:
- Private 30-minute consultation with an exercise specialist. During this consultation, you will receive exercise guidelines as well as a personalized exercise plan.
Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment, Nutrition and Exercise Consultation $150
This package includes all the features of the Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment plus:
- Private 30-minute consultation with a cardiac nurse for various nutrition-related concerns such as weight control, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides and good nutrition principles.
- Private 30-minute consultation with an exercise specialist. During this consultation, you will receive exercise guidelines as well as a personalized exercise plan.
Blood Draw $25
Through our Comprehensive Heart Risk Assessment and Vascular Screening Programs you can opt to have a blood draw for the following test if desired. Listed below is a brief description of each test that is included in the blood draw. The screening nurse will call you with your results in 24-48 hours. Please inform your nurse if you would like this test done instead of the finger stick screening for the lipid profile test.
- HMCY (Homocysteine) - This compound is a marker for atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the lining of the arteries, which may lead to coronary heart disease and stroke). Excess HMCY produces thickening and scarring within artery tissues. If you have high LDL cholesterol and add high HMCY to the mix, atherosclerosis is more likely. If the HMCY presents with an elevated level of HMCY it may act as an independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and venous thrombosis
- CRPUQ (C-Reactive Protein) - Usually called a CRP test, the C-Reactive Protein test measures inflammation in the body. CRP is being evaluated for use as a marker of cardiovascular risk. C-Reactive Protein is a nonspecific, acute-phase reactant used to diagnose bacterial infectious disease and inflammatory disorders.
- GLU (GLUCOSE) - The glucose test measures the body’s ability to metabolize glucose. Glucose is the sugar that the body uses for energy. Patients with untreated diabetes have high blood glucose levels. The glucose test is one of the tools used to make the diagnosis of diabetes.
- LPP (Lipoproteins) - Lipoproteins are considered to be an accurate predictor of coronary heart disease. As part of the “Lipid Profile” these tests are performed to indicate persons at risk for developing heart disease and to monitor therapy if abnormalities are found. The “Lipid Profile” usually includes total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL.
Atrial Fibrillation Risk Assessment $30
Atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia) causes a disruption in the normal function of the electrical conduction system of the heart. The heart's two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn't pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. This condition increases the risk of a stroke. Atrial fibrillation screening includes:
- 12-lead electrocardiogram
- One-minute rhythm strip
- Review of risk factors
- 20-minute consultation with a cardiac nurse
Sudden Cardiac Arrest $95
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims the lives of over 450,000 Americans each year and is the number one killer in the United States. SCA can result in the death of individuals who may or may not know of pre-existing heart conditions.
SCA often occurs in active, seemingly healthy people with no known heart disease or other health problems. However, most victims already have heart disease or other health problems of which they are completely unaware. Fortunately, lives can be saved with early detection.
A comprehensive cardiac screening, including both an Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) and an Echocardiogram (ECHO), can alert you to risks associated with certain serious cardiac diseases. These two tests are generally considered to be the most effective screenings available and may help uncover serious heart conditions that potentially can lead to SCA.
Vascular Screenings
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a serious health risk factor leading to stroke, heart attack and sudden death. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware they are at risk until it’s too late. The St. Joseph Hospital Heart and Vascular Center offers the following PAD screenings for $45 each or all three for $95.
- Stroke / Carotid Artery Screening - A noninvasive test to look for plaques that can cause a stroke. The carotid artery is in your neck and is one of the main arteries that supplies blood to your brain. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in this country. More than half of all strokes in older Americans are due to carotid artery disease and there are proven treatments to reduce strokes in those cases.
- Abdominal Aortic Screening - A noninvasive test to look for an aneurysm. The abdominal aorta is the large artery that carries blood to the lower half of your body. An aneurysm is a weakened area of your aorta that has distended and could potentially rupture. This is the 10th leading cause of death in men over 50 in this country, but most people don’t know they have an aneurysm. An aneurysm can be permanently cured when it is diagnosed early, but rupture is fatal in most cases.
- Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening - Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): a test to look for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a measurement of blood flow at the ankle level to check for any blockages that may have developed in the arteries of your legs. PAD affects the health of millions of older Americans, at least a quarter of those over 70. People with PAD have a much higher risk of stroke and heart attack, but these risks can be reduced if PAD is diagnosed early.