Heart Screenings at Baptist

Baptist Cardiovascular Services offers two screening programs that are available year round:

• Everyday Heart Day
• Cardiac Calcium Scoring

Everyday Heart Day
Due to the tremendous demand for our annual Heart Day event, now Baptist Cardiovascular Services offers our "Every Day is Heart Day" program at Baptist's state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Center. Every day of the week—Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.—you can receive the same screenings available at Heart Day at the Heart Day price - $25.

And as on Heart Day, for no additional charge, your test results will be mailed to you within three to four weeks, and a copy can be forwarded to the physician of your choice. The screenings are held by appointment, and you will also be mailed a pre-registration packet to complete forms in advance.

Screenings include
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Blood Chemistry Profile
• Triglyceride and Cholesterol testing
• Cardiac Risk Analysis
• Stroke/Hypertension screening

The screenings are for adults 18 and older. 12-hour fasting is required for accurate blood tests. Registration is required, and space is limited.

To schedule an appointment for the Every Day program, click here to sign up online or call 601-948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262.

Cardiac Calcium Scoring

• Click here to hear our Women’s Health Inside Out podcast with cardiologist Douglas Harkins, MD, discussing this screening.

Note: Those who have had stents, pacemakers, or procedures that left metalic objects in the left side of the chest are not eligible for this screening.

If you have multiple risk factors for heart disease, you should consider the Cardiac Calcium Scoring screening. This screening involves a CT scan that detects calcium deposits in coronary arteries, and compares it to standards for your age and gender. The presence of calcium deposits correlates directly to coronary plaque and risk of future coronary disease. This test, along with other indicators, helps present an overall picture of your heart health. The screening is fast, painless and non-invasive. It is a better predictor of potential coronary events than other non-invasive tests. There is no preparation necessary for this type of scan and the entire process takes only about 30 minutes.

Anyone with more than one of the following risk factors should consider this test:
• Men over age 35
• Women over 55 or postmenopausal
• Abnormal cholesterol levels
• Family history of heart disease
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Overweight
• Physical inactivity

How the Screening Works
After completing a brief personal and family history, a computed tomography (CT) scan of your heart and coronary arteries is performed. The scanner takes dozens of images during the fractions of a second between heartbeats. Once completed, our cardiologists will calculate a total calcium score. This numerical score is compared to gender- and age-specific patient databases to determine your percentile ranking.

What to Expect on the Day of the Screening

• No prep is necessary.
• Please avoid wearing shirts with metal buttons or snaps; ladies avoid underwire bras.
• Check in on the second floor of the main hospital at Baptist Radiology Department.
• The scan itself takes only seconds, but registration and a brief history will take approximately 30 minutes.
• Emergencies could cause longer waits.
• Radiation is involved. If you could be pregnant, it is advised that you not have this test.
• You will receive your report in the mail in approximately one week.
• Your report will be forwarded to your physician at your request.

Scheduling Your Screening
Physician referral is not necessary. To schedule your Cardiac Calcium Scoring Screening, call the Baptist Health Line at 601-948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262. The cost of the test is $100 and is typically not covered by insurance. Payment of cash or check will be accepted.