Cardiology and Neurology

In the Cardiology and Neurology Departments at Griffin Hospital you will find a variety of diagnostic testing available to you and your physician, all of which can be instrumental in evaluating the status of your heart or your body’s nervous system. Each test is administered by our highly trained and professional staff and is reviewed and interpreted by a board certified Cardiologist or board certified Neurologist.

Our Cardiology and Neurology Departments offer the following services:EKG testing

• Echocardiography
• Cardiac Stress Testing
• Holter Monitor Testing
• Pacemaker Clinic
• EEG
• EMG

An EKG or electrocardiogram is a painless test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. At Griffin Hospital, this test can be performed by an EKG technician, a nurse, or a phlebotomist. Electrocardiograms are interpreted by board certified Cardiologists.

An Echocardiogram is an exam that uses sound waves to demonstrate the anatomy and function of the heart muscle. A transducer, which helps to acquire images of heart movement as well as its four chambers and valvular structures, is placed on the chest.

A Cardiac Stress Test evaluates your heart and body’s response to exercise. While exercising on a treadmill and experiencing increasing amounts of physical activity, a Cardiologist monitors the patient’s electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and heart rate. For those patients unable to endure the physical requirement of using a treadmill, a non-exercise stress test (pharmacologic stress testing) can be performed using medications to obtain similar results.

Some heart conditions may requireyour doctor to request that you wear a Holter Monitor. This requires a visit to the Cardiology Department where a technician applies EKG electrodes to your chest which are connected to a small monitor that records your heart rhythm over a 24-hour period while you conduct your normal daily activities. You will return the next day to have the Holter monitor removed. A Cardiologist will promptly interpret the results of the EKG tracings that were recorded. Palpitations and syncope (passing out) are examples of some symptoms and reasons why your doctor may request that this test be performed.

A Pacemaker Clinic is located in the Cardiology Department, and is designed to help monitor our pacemaker patients through transtelephonic (over the telephone) monitoring and occasional visits to the Clinic. Patients are enrolled at the time of pacemaker implantation or at the time of moving to the Valley community. A physician referral is required to participate in the Pacemaker Clinic.

An EEG or electroencephalogram is a recording of the electrical activity of the brain. This test is used to evaluate a variety of disorders, including seizures, infections of the central nervous system, head trauma, brain tumors, and such degenerative disorders as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease.

An EMG or electromyography is a recording of the electrical activity in muscles. Testing of nerve conduction is often included in this study as well. EMG testing can help your doctor discover the cause of extent of muscle weakness, spasms, paralysis, or pain in the arms, hands, legs, or face. In addition, other neurological disease processes affecting the spinal cord or the nerve-muscle junction can be detected and evaluated.

The priority of the Cardiology and Neurology staff is to extend personalized, patient-focused health care by using only the best equipment and technology. We pride ourselves on producing high quality images/results with the highest standards of accuracy as well as thorough evaluations by board certified physicians. It is our goal to provide services to patients in a positive, anxiety-free atmosphere.

The Cardiology and Neurology Departments offer several amenities to patients that demonstrate Griffin Hospital’s Planetree Model of Care. Complimentary valet parking is offered to all outpatients who use Griffin Hospital’s Cardiology and Neurology services.

Routine outpatient appointments are available Monday through Friday, and can be scheduled with the Central Scheduling Department at (203) 732-7101.

We are proud of the fact that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) recognizes our Cardiology and Neurology Departments. Our Cardiology and Neurology Departments are another example of how Griffin Hospital is changing the face of healthcare.