Why hasn't my doctor told me about this new procedure?

The IMATRON Ultrafast EBT Scanner is a relatively new, highly advanced diagnostic imaging tool. Initially, it was primarily used exclusively by major university hospitals and leading medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University, UCLA and other such facilities around the world to evaluate its usefulness in coronary calcium screening. It then became available to independent imaging facilities, and now at INNER IMAGING, you and other patients in the New York and Tri-State area can have the same advantages of this remarkable early detection technology.

Because the IMATRON Ultrafast EBT Scanner is new to this area, your doctor may just have learned about its availability, or will soon.

If the IMATRON Ultrafast EBT Scanner is new to the New York area, then how can my results be compared to a "norm?"

INNER IMAGING has access to an expansive database of over 80,000 patients from research and testing done worldwide on calcium screening to compare to your results by age, gender and sex. The value of this database is that generally by age 55, most Americans develop some degree of atherosclerosis, and by comparing your results to the established normal range, doctors can determine if you have begun the process at, above, or below the expected rate.

I exercise regularly, and I'm very careful about what I eat. Do I still need a heart scan?

You may very well not be at risk. However, because the heart imaging at INNER IMAGING is so advanced, it provides greater detail and information that could easily have been missed by the diagnostic tests available until now. There are also some factors that one can not control, such as the implications of a family history of heart disease, or living and working in a stressful environment. Therefore, a heart scan could be helpful in determining if there is a higher than expected risk for a heart attack.

I recently had a stress test that was perfectly normal. Why would I need this test?

Research has shown that while a stress test is valuable to determine various factors of a patient's health, it is not able to detect the earliest signs of heart disease. Therefore, a heart scan at INNER IMAGING can provide potentially life-saving information to your doctor that a stress test cannot.

What is the significance of calcified plaque build-up, and the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score available from INNER IMAGING?

Coronary calcified plaque build-up is an indicator of heart disease. This is commonly called "hardening of the arteries." At INNER IMAGING, we will provide you with a "CAC" score that measures the total amount of calcium deposits found in your coronary arteries, based on size and density. For all age groups, the higher the score, the greater the risk of coronary disease. This information will provide your doctor with the vital information needed to determine the next steps in your health maintenance and life extension program.

What kind of report will I get from INNER IMAGING?

Based on your Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score and other risk factors communicated in your health history questionnaire, our on-staff physicians will prepare a full report. This includes recommendations to your physician regarding the next steps which could range from simple behavior and lifestyle modifications, to appropriate medications or further diagnostic procedures.

Can I make an appointment directly with INNER IMAGING, or do I need a physician's referral?

Generally, our patients request the test through their doctor. If you don't have one we will gladly make a recommendation. Either way, you have the benefit of having expert Cardiologists and Radiologists read your scans and provide a report. Whether you contact INNER IMAGING directly, or through your physician, you still have the option of continuing treatment, if necessary, through Beth Israel Medical Center.

Are INNER IMAGING procedures covered by insurance?

Most insurance companies in the New York area do not  provide coverage for the screening services at INNER IMAGING. Once a patient is identified as an "at risk" individual with coronary artery disease as established by the EBT scan, Inner Imaging does participate with most insurance carriers and can provide you with real solutions to your cardiac problem. Even without medical insurance it's a wise investment. Most patients at INNER IMAGING discover they have no detectable signs of coronary heart disease. However, for those who do require a treatment plan, the information can be invaluable to help reduce future medical costs and suffering.