In-Office Diagnostics in Panama City, FL

Electrocardiograms, ultrasounds and X-rays, done in the office as part of the same visit.

Testing that happens in the office, so a question raised in an appointment can often be answered without sending you somewhere else.

Request an appointmentCall (850) 481-1101
In-office diagnostics at Nation's Best Family Health Care in Panama City, FL

Diagnostics treatments

2 treatments

About in-office diagnostics

The practice performs electrocardiograms, ultrasounds and X-rays on site.

These are not things people book for themselves. They are ordered when something in your history or examination raises a question that the test can help answer, and they are explained to you before they are done.

Why in-office testing is worth having

A test that happens in the same building on the same day removes a step that people quite reasonably skip. Referred-out testing means another appointment, another trip and another wait, and a proportion of it never happens.

It also keeps the result in the same record as everything else, so it is read in context rather than in isolation.

What to expect

Both pages describe what the test involves in practice. None of it requires preparation unless we tell you otherwise when it is arranged.

If you have been asked to have a test and are not sure why, ask — it is a fair question and the answer should be a plain one.

Common questions

Anything not answered here is worth asking at your consultation.

Why has an EKG been suggested for me?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, and medical professionals often suggest that their aging patients or at-risk patients take an EKG to check for signs of it. Being asked to have one is usually about age and risk rather than about something already found.
Does an EKG hurt?
It is a non-invasive test. The electrodes are adhesive pads placed on the skin, and they only record signals your heart already produces — nothing is injected and nothing passes into your body. The pads are peeled off at the end, which can tug a little on hair. The recording itself is fast.
What does the test actually check?
It helps our doctors check things like heart rhythm and blood flow, and it can show evidence of a previous heart attack or anything else that seems abnormal. What it cannot do is rule everything out, because it only records what your heart was doing during that short window.
What happens if something looks abnormal?
If we see something abnormal, we will likely send you for further testing to get an idea of how to best treat or manage the issue. An abnormal trace is a reason to look further, not a diagnosis on its own. You will be told what was seen and what the next step is before you leave.
Do I need to prepare for it?
There is nothing complicated to do. Wear something that makes it easy to reach your chest, arms and lower legs, and bring a list of your current medications along with any previous heart testing you have had elsewhere. Call (850) 481-1101 if you have questions before your appointment.
What can imaging show?
Diagnostic imaging technologies like X-rays and 4D ultrasounds make it possible to take detailed pictures of your bones, joints, organs, and soft tissues. Which of those is useful depends on what is being looked for, which is why imaging usually follows an examination rather than standing in for one.

Terms you may hear

Electrocardiogram (EKG)
A non-invasive test that records your heart's electrical activity, used to check things like heart rhythm and blood flow and to look for signs of heart disease.
Electrode
An adhesive pad placed on the skin during the test. It picks up the signals your heart already produces and sends nothing into your body.
Heart rhythm
The pattern and regularity of your heartbeat. Rhythm is one of the things an EKG lets our doctors check, alongside blood flow.
X-ray
Imaging that produces detailed pictures of bone and joint structure, used when the question is about something solid rather than about soft tissue.
Ultrasound
Imaging that uses sound waves to produce pictures of organs and soft tissue. The 3D/4D studio here runs in partnership with Sweet Baby Co.
Diagnostic imaging
The group of technologies used to take detailed pictures inside the body. Here that means X-rays and ultrasound, both offered on-site.
Nation’s Best Family Health Care

Request your appointment today

Call (850) 481-1101 with any question about a test you have been asked to have.

Request an appointmentCall (850) 481-1101