February 4, 2010

AUGUSTA -- In this week's Smart Heart segment we're taking you inside University Hospital's Heart and Vascular Institute.

We start in the beginning with testing for heart disease. There are 3 types of tests: non-invasive tests, nuclear imaging tests and other imaging tests.

Doctors decide what test to use by looking at a patient's risk factors, whether there family has a history of heart problems and what symptoms they currently have.

Cindy Norris, a registered nurse working at the Heart and Vascular Institute says acceditation is important to patient care.

"To get accreditated means they have crossed many bridges to make sure that our equipment is accurate. That all the people doing the studies have gone through very special training. That if a patient comes here for a vascular test, they know they're going to get the best test." said Norris.

So what's the difference between invasive and non-invasive tests?

Non-invasive testing does not involve inserting medical instruments or fluids, such as dye, into the body.