Heart Health Screening & Testing

Cardiac testing and imaging in Virginia

A concrete diagnosis is the first step in an effective care plan — let us get one for you.

Throughout the hospitals in the HCA Virginia Health System, we emphasize the importance of early detection. From cardiac catheterization to diagnostic imaging, we use a wide range of tools to help start your care as soon as possible.

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Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Cardiology

Cardiac rehabilitation

Heart and vascular surgery

Heart arrhythmia

Heart attack

Heart failure

Conditions that require heart imaging

Our laboratory and imaging specialists offer an extensive suite of screening tools for various cardiovascular conditions, such as:

Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart disease

Heart failure
Hypertension

Heart screening and imaging services we offer

From advanced imaging and cardiac catheterization to coronary calcium scans and electrophysiology (EP) studies, our services are designed to ensure you get the most comprehensive, accurate diagnosis possible.

Complete screening and imaging care

Whether you are experiencing heart disease, heart failure, a heart arrhythmia or a related condition, our services help our cardiologists to identify these situations early. Doing so allows our specialists to provide treatments to keep these conditions from advancing, or possibly even prevent sudden events like heart attacks from happening in the first place.

Cardiac catheterization (cath) labs

Our cardiac cath labs operate 24/7 and are operated by a team of board-certified interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurse practitioners, registered cath lab nurses and electrophysiology technologists. Here, they use advanced minimally invasive surgical technology to perform both diagnostic and interventional treatments and tests, including:

Blood sample collection
Breaking up blood clots during a heart attack
Calculating heart chamber pressure
Diagnosing heart disease
Measuring oxygen levels

These procedures are accomplished via a doctor placing a catheter into a blood vessel in the neck, arm or groin, then threading it into the heart. By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, we can reduce your recovery time and ensure less pain, less scarring and a shorter hospital stay.

Procedures offered at our cath labs

We perform a variety of interventions to diagnose and treat conditions such as heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Some of the coronary and peripheral intervention procedures we offer include:

3D mapping
Angiogram
Bare metal stents
Biventricular leads
Cardioversion
Cutting balloon
Drug-eluting stents
Heart biopsy
High-risk coronary stenting with advanced, heart-pump therapies
Intravascular ultrasound
Nitric oxide study for pulmonary hypertension
Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) stent
Peripheral catheterization
Peripheral PTCA stent
Pressure wire
Renal PTCA stent
Rotational atherectomy
Tilt table testing
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and other advanced heart imaging

Coronary calcium scans

A coronary calcium scan, also known as a "heart scan," is a specialized X-ray that captures photos of your heart to detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries.

We offer this type of advanced scan because it allows us to identify potential coronary artery disease before you may experience symptoms. If a significant level of calcified plaque is discovered, then our heart team may prescribe certain medications or recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of life-threatening cardiac problems.

Electrophysiology (EP) studies

Electrophysiology involves testing the electrical system and activity within your heart. For example, if you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your cardiologist may use an EP study to see where it is occurring in your heart.

Our hospitals include electrophysiologists, electrophysiology nurses and anesthesiologists who are specially trained to perform EP studies. They will work together to determine what treatment plan is best for you.

Imaging services we offer

Our utmost concern is ensuring that you have as many options as possible to gain a proper diagnosis, no matter your condition. We monitor your heart's activity through a spectrum of imaging services, including:

Computerized tomography angiography (CTA)
Echocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Multidetector cardiac computerized tomography scan (MDCT)
Nuclear imaging
Ultrasound
X-rays

Stress testing

Also known as an exercise stress test, a stress test shows how your heart performs during physical activity. Since your heart pumps harder and faster when you exercise, a stress test is able to detect any problems with blood flow within your heart.

Typically, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while our cardiologists monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing. If you already have signs of heart disease or a heart arrhythmia, a stress test may be recommended so we can determine the severity of your heart condition and form the best treatment plan for you.

Vascular lab testing

Vascular testing involves a full scope of noninvasive procedures to determine blood flow, circulation or blockages in vessels outside the heart.

We offer several fully equipped peripheral vascular labs, which feature advanced imaging technology for veins and arteries. This technology provides doctors with a clear view of the vascular field, resulting in reliable detection and treatment all while only exposing you to minimal radiation.