Echocardiography

Echocardiography is available every other Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Jackson County Regional Health Center.

An Echocardiogram (Echo) is a test that uses high frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.  Echocardiograms are performed to evaluate the valves and chambers of the heart in a noninvasive manner.  This procedure aides in the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies, the detection of atrial tumors, or pericardial effusions.  It is also used to evaluate cardiac wall motion and function after a heart attack.
  
A specially trained technologist will place some gel and an instrument called a transducer on your ribs near your sternum.  The transducer will be directed toward your heart.  You may be asked to change positions or breathe a little differently to obtain the proper images.  All of the information picked up by the transducer is transmitted into electrical impulses and relayed into a machine where the image is displayed and recorded.  There is no preparation needed for the test. 

The recording and images are then shown to a cardiologist for interpretation.

Appointments

Appointment scheduling is done through your physician office. For any questions concerning your scheduled exam, please call Imaging Services at 563-652-4053.