What to expect at your appointment
Your referring doctor will only refer you for cardiology services if they believe that specialist assessment or treatment is necessary.
When your referral to HeartCheck is accepted, you will be contacted by a HeartCheck administrative team member with an appointment time.
In your initial HeartCheck consult you will meet with our specialist sonography team.
They will explain the services you are receiving and the purpose of the assessment and/or services being provided.
What happens when you are referred to HeartCheck
Following the completion of this process, recommendations may be made, and critical data will be addressed immediately.
We guarantee a prompt turnaround period from your data upload to the delivery of your report to your referring doctor.
Please note: The costs for services will be expected on the day of your appointment. For some patients these costs will be paid for by ACC or Southern Cross.
You may be able to claim reimbursement through your private insurer, and a detailed invoice will be provided for this purpose. Please contact us if you need further details.
What is Echocardiography?
Echocardiography is a minimally invasive test that uses imaging technology to provide doctors with valuable information about the heart. This test is ideal for finding heart disease, monitoring heart valve disease disorder over time, or seeing how well medical and surgical treatments work.
A standard echocardiogram - also known as an 'echo' - is an imaging technology that uses ultrasound to create images of your heart. It is a diagnostic test used to examine the heart and its blood supply, determine how large the heart is, how well it contracts, and how the valves function.
What is Holter Monitoring?
The Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the electrical heart activity continuously over 24 hours or longer. Your medical specialist may request a Holter monitor if you have symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, ongoing fatigue (tiredness), and palpitations.
You will get instructions on how long you will need to wear the monitor, keeping a diary of your activities and symptoms during the test, as well as personal care and activity instructions. Please remember – you cannot shower, bathe or go swimming while wearing a Holter monitor.
What is Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring?
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is when your blood pressure is measured at regular intervals, usually over a 24 hour period.
It involves you wearing a blood pressure cuff around your upper non-dominant arm - e.g. if you are right handed, it will go on your left arm. The cuff connects by a soft tube to a small monitor worn on a belt around your waist. The blood pressure cuff will automatically inflate when it is taking a reading. The monitor collects information throughout the 24-hour period that will later be transferred to a computer.
You can continue with your normal daily activities during the test.
