Cardiac & EKG Testing
EKG
The DeKalb Clinic EKG department performs thousands of cardiac tracings annually. Four patient care technicians (PCT's) perform EKG tracings that provide the physician with pertinent information about your heart rhythms. State-of-the-art technology, combined with our experienced personnel, ensure accurate information to your physician. To schedule an EKG ordered by your primary care physician, as part of pre-operative testing, call (815) 758-8671, Ext. 3405.
Holter Monitoring
24 and 48-hour holter monitoring devices are "hooked up" to our patients to record continuous activity of the heart. The patient is given a diary to log any physical activity, including sleeping that takes place during the monitoring period. When the patient returns the monitor, the entire recording period can be reviewed by the physician, or edited for specific events using computer technology.
King of Hearts Event Monitoring
King of Hearts event monitoring is similar to the holter, but the transmitter holds approximately 5 "events". The patient pushes the record button when they experience a cardiac event such as a flutter or increased heart rate. These events are then recorded and rhythm strips are printed for the physician. This type of monitoring is extremely useful for those patients that can feel their cardiac events as they happen.
Transtelephonic (TTM) Pacemaker Checks
Our TTM program allows pacemaker patients to "call in" their routine rhythm checks. The clinic provides its patients with telephone transmitters. Our PCT's telephone the patient in their homes and the patient can use their telephone transmitter to record their rhythm strips with and without the provided magnet. This service does not take the place of regularly scheduled checks with your cardiologist, but provides our patients the convenience of calling in their checks from anywhere! (Our "snowbird" or house-bound patients will find this very beneficial!)
Cardiac Stress Testing
Our stress testing machine records your cardiac rhythms as you are put through a series of physical activities designed to record your heart at different levels of stress. Patients who are unable to walk on our treadmill may receive an intravenous drip to chemically "stress" the heart. Our cardiologists perform this testing along with our PCT's or nursing assistance to provide you with the information necessary to determine the state of your cardiac health.
Please call our Cardiology department at (815) 758-8671 if you have any questions regarding our cardiac testing procedures.
