Prep/Info Needed

Complete pre-certification if patient’s insurance requires. Patient should arrive 1 hour prior to procedure time to allow for registration process. Patient must bring signed physician order and appropriate diagnosis for procedure ordered. Please bring drivers license, social security number and insurance card. Please bring a list of the medications that are currently taken.

Patient should wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the chest and comfortable shoes. Do not eat or drink anything for at least 4 hours before the test. Please take your medications as directed by your physician.

An echocardiogram will be done to visualize the heart muscle and the heart valves. Once this is complete, you will walk on the treadmill to exercise your heart. (This is the Stress portion of the test.) Once you reach your target rate, which is determined by the computer, another echocardiogram is done to evaluate your heart function during stress. If you are unable to walk on a treadmill, medication may be given to you to reach this effect. Your doctor will discuss this with you. The procedure will take 1 to 1½ hours to complete. After the test, you may eat. You may resume normal activities after the procedure.

Where The Patient Should Enter

The patient should park in the outpatient parking area at North Fulton Regional Hospital. The patient should register with the outpatient admitting representative. After registering, the patient will be given directions to the department. Family members may accompany the patient to the procedure room or wait in the waiting room.