X-Ray (radiograph)

This diagnostic test is typically the first imaging test used to help diagnose symptoms like breathing difficulties, bad or persistent cough, injury, chest pain, or fever. It is used to diagnose and monitor conditions like pneumonia, heart failure, emphysema, lung cancer, and other medical conditions.

There are a lot of benefits to X-ray:

• there is no radiation remaining in your body after the exam is complete
• there are usually no side effects
• a fast and easy diagnostic test
• some precautions do need to be taken though. For example, women should be careful to let the physician or technologist know if there is any chance that they could be pregnant.

Diagnostic x-rays of the bone is also very common. This is a fast and easy way for the physician to determine if there are any bone fractures or abnormalities to the bone or joints. It can be used to assess for arthritis in the bone also. Often it is used to look for bone cancer or bone growths. This is a great diagnostic tool to check on a bone fracture to see how it is healing.

Spirometry

Spirometry is another one of the diagnostic services offered by Viva Med Concierge Primary Care. This is a common diagnostic test used to assess how well your lungs are working. This is done by measuring the air you inhale and how much you exhale, and how quickly. It is used to diagnose asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing conditions. It is also used to periodically monitor your lung condition and whether your current treatment is helping your condition or not. Some reasons that it is done include asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis. This diagnostic test can be used to see if your medications are helping your condition. It is also used to see if your lungs are functioning well enough to undergo surgical procedures. This is generally a safe diagnostic test. During the test a clip is placed over your nose to keep your nostrils closed. You will be asked to take a deep breath and exhale into a tube for several seconds. Sometimes the doctor will have you inhale a medication/bronchodialator like albuterol and repeat the test the same day. The results before and after the bronchodilaltor are compared.Some of the key spirometry measurements include forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV). The FVC measures the largest amount of air that is forcefully exhaled after breathing as deeply as you can. The FEV measures the amount of air forced from your lungs in one second. This helps determine the severity of the breathing condition.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An electrocardiagram (EKG) is used to check for signs of heart disease. This test records the electrical activity of your heart through electrode patches places on the skin on your chest, arms and legs. This is a great diagnostic tool that is quick, safe, and painless. The doctor will be able to check your heart rhythm, blood flow and even diagnose heart attacks. If you know that you will be having an EKG it is best to avoid using oils and lotions on your skin prior to the diagnostic test. It can interfere with the signal that the machine is acquiring. It is also helpful to wear clothing that is easy to remove. During the test a technician will place 10 electrodes (like stickers) to your chest. Sometimes shaving is necessary if you have a lot of chest hair. You will lay flat on a bed while wires are attached to these electrodes. This is done while resting or while you are exercising. The resting EKG only takes about 10 minutes.

Lab Work

We offer in house diagnostic services for those needing lab work. Some common labs that the doctor may request are ANA to help diagnose lupus and other autoimmune diseases. PTT to help evaluate risk of excessive bleeding prior to surgery or with monitoring heparin anticoagulant therapy. Hemoglobin A1C to monitor your diabetes. Basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a group of 7-8 tests used to screen for conditions like kidney disease and diabetes. Complete blood count (CBC) is a diagnostic screening test that identifies disorders like anemia or infections. Comprehensive Metabolic panel (CMP) group of 14 tests that gives your doctor informations about liver, electrolyte and kidneys. Sedimentation rate (ESR) helps your doctor determine the cause of inflammation. Influenza A and B tests (FLU) can determine weather flu like symptoms are due to the influenza A or B. This is done using a nasopharangeal swab. Glucose levels are taken to identify blood glucose levels for monitoring of diabetes. Pregnancy tests (hCG) tests can be done to determine pregnancy. This can be done using a urine or blood sample. Lipid panels can be used to determine the risk of coronary artery disease. Pap smears are done to determine if women have cervical cancer or other uterine infections. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) testing is done to screen for and diagnose thyroid disorders.

Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing is another part of our in-house diagnostic services that we have to test for peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is done to check for narrowing in the arteries in your arms or legs. This test is done by measuring blood pressures in your arm and comparing the numbers to blood pressures in your legs and feet. Peripheral artery disease puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke leg pain and poor circulation. Some risk factors for peripheral artery disease include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Six minute walk test (6MWT)

Six minute walk test (6MWT) is done to test exercise tolerance in chronic respiratory disease patients. This is done by walking with an oxygen monitor on. The goal is to walk as far as possible in six minutes. You will just walk back and forth in a hallway at our office location.