When Should a Practice Order an Echocardiogram?
Not sure when to order an echocardiogram? Learn the key signs—like shortness of breath, palpitations, or murmurs—that indicate a patient may need one. Plus, discover how mobile ultrasound can streamline diagnostics and improve patient care at your practice.
Echocardiograms are a crucial tool in diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions, but many primary care providers and specialists wonder: When is the right time to order one?
At Ultra View Imaging, we provide on-site mobile echocardiograms, making it easier than ever for practices to offer this essential test without sending patients elsewhere. Here’s when you should consider ordering an echocardiogram for your patients.
1. Unexplained Shortness of Breath or Fatigue
If a patient reports difficulty breathing, excessive fatigue, or exercise intolerance, an echocardiogram can help determine if heart failure, valve disease, or other cardiac dysfunctions are the cause.
2. Irregular Heartbeats or Palpitations
Frequent palpitations or irregular rhythms could be a sign of atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, or structural abnormalities. An echocardiogram can assess the heart’s function and structure to guide treatment.
3. Heart Murmurs or Suspected Valve Disease
A new or changing heart murmur should always be evaluated with an echocardiogram to check for valvular stenosis, regurgitation, or congenital defects. Early detection can prevent complications down the line.
4. History of Hypertension or Stroke
Patients with long-term high blood pressure or a history of stroke may need an echocardiogram to assess left ventricular function, hypertrophy, or potential embolic sources that could increase their risk of future events.
5. Chest Pain or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
While an echocardiogram doesn’t directly visualize coronary arteries, it can assess for wall motion abnormalities, ejection fraction, and other indicators of ischemia or past heart attacks.
6. Preoperative Cardiac Risk Assessment
Patients undergoing major surgery, especially those with existing risk factors, may need a preoperative echocardiogram to assess cardiac function and potential surgical risks.
How Mobile Echocardiograms Improve Patient Care
Traditionally, referring a patient for an echocardiogram can lead to:
❌ Delays in scheduling
❌ Longer wait times for results
❌ Decreased patient compliance
With Ultra View Imaging’s mobile echocardiogram services, your practice can:
✅ Perform tests on-site with no equipment investment
✅ Get results faster, improving patient care and treatment planning
✅ Keep revenue within your practice instead of referring it out
Let’s Bring Mobile Ultrasound to Your Practice
If your practice regularly orders echocardiograms, why send patients elsewhere? Our expert sonographers bring the test to you—seamlessly, affordably, and efficiently.
📩 Contact us today to learn how mobile ultrasound can transform your patient care