Echo cardio service now at Picton hospital
Administrator | Nov 28, 2011 | Comments 1
Quinte Health Care’s Cardiopulmonary Department has expanded its Echocardiography or “echo” service to QHC Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. An echo, also known as a cardiac ultrasound, uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart.
QHC currently performs more than 3,000 echo exams per year and by expanding this service to QHC PECMH, it will limit the number of inpatient transfers and outpatients who previously had to travel to Belleville or Trenton. It will also provide faster access to urgent inpatient and emergency department exams.
Echo is routinely used in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with suspected or known heart diseases. It can provide a wealth of helpful information, including the size and shape of the heart, pumping capacity and the location and extent of any tissue damage. Echocardiography also helps determine whether any chest pain or associated symptoms are related to heart disease.
Lorel Gutthardt, Director of Diagnostics said that although Echocardiography is not a new service for Quinte Health Care, it will mean that people in Prince Edward County will have easier and faster access.
“This means that we can eliminate some of the worry and costs for patients that are associated with traveling far distances to access health care services,” she said. “This reinforces QHC’s new strategic plan and one of its priorities to identify options to offer services closer to home.”
The echo service, which began Friday, Nov. 25, is available at Picton every Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for any patient with a physician request or order for the test.
Filed Under: Local News
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Ever so pleased Health Services are coming much closer to home. Have travelled twice to Kingston in the past for this testing.
Word has it that QHC working with others to bring a Cardiac Rehabilitation program to Prince Edward Fitness & Acquatic Centre (PEFAC).
Both most definitely appreciation.
Thank you