Diagnosis and Testing for Heart Disease

Many types of heart disease can have similar symptoms, and the right tests can provide the answers you need. Cardiac and imaging specialists at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health consider your needs to determine the best tests for you.

We are a leading destination for heart disease care in the Pacific Northwest. You have access to the full range of tests for any type of heart condition, from common to complex and rare. Our cardiology, heart and vascular surgery program has earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report and the No. 1 ranking in Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Oregon for the 2023-2024 award period.

We make heart testing easier with several convenient locations and a compassionate team that puts your comfort first.

The cardiac catheterization (cath) lab at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provides advanced technology for diagnosing heart disease. Interventional cardiologists and cardiac imaging specialists work together to diagnose and treat heart conditions, performing thousands of cardiac catheterization procedures each year.

Our team’s skill and the advanced imaging techniques we use enable us to diagnose and treat all types of heart conditions, including:

• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart valve and structural heart disease

During catheterization, we insert a thin tube (catheter) into a vein and guide it to your heart. Using real-time imaging, our specialists:

• Diagnose and repair damaged heart valves
• Identify and destroy (ablate) heart cells that are causing an irregular heartbeat
• Open blocked arteries with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as angioplasty and stenting
• Perform coronary angiography, a specialized test that uses dye and X-rays to view blood flow to and from your heart 
• Take a biopsy of heart tissue, which we may use for genetic testing or to diagnose conditions like myocarditis

Our state-of-the-art cardiac imaging tests feature advanced technology and high-definition images.  Whether you have a minor concern or a severe heart condition, we focus on your safety and comfort at every step. Our team offers the latest methods for:

• Cardiac computed tomography (CT)
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Exercise stress tests
• Wearable monitors, including Holter monitors or a 14-day Zio patch

An echocardiogram (echo) is an ultrasound of your heart. An echo can help doctors diagnose many heart conditions, including cardiomyopathies, heart valve conditions and infections.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s echocardiography lab was among the first in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to earn accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Echocardiography. This accreditation speaks to our expertise, high volume and quality of care. 

We perform more than 12,000 echocardiograms each year, making us a leader in the Puget Sound area. With our technology and team’s expertise, we can identify heart problems with the highest level of accuracy. Our lab offers all types of echo tests, including:

• Transthoracic echo (TTE)
• Transesophageal echo (TEE)
• Stress echo (SE)
• Dobutamine stress echo (DSE)

Specialists in our electrophysiology (EP) lab diagnose and treat problems with your heart's electrical system. Our leading electrophysiologists, technologists and nurses identify arrhythmias with minimally invasive methods. Learn more about our leading electrophysiology services.

Nuclear cardiology tests are one of the most accurate ways to diagnose early-stage CAD. These tests also identify heart damage from chemotherapy. We offer the latest nuclear cardiology tests, including:

• Equilibrium radionuclide angiogram (ERNA)
• Nuclear exercise stress test 
• Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Cardiac PET-CT

Contact us to learn more about heart care or to schedule an appointment.