In urban areas such as Los Angeles, the access to sophisticated cardiac imaging isn’t solely dictated by medical requirements. It’s frequently a logistical issue. Even in significant metropolitan regions, where cutting-edge technology exists, practical obstacles—such as scheduling issues, traffic congestion, and extensive waitlists—often hinder patients from receiving scans promptly. Many endure weeks waiting for appointments or navigate across the city to reach a facility that offers high-quality cardiac CT. In the San Fernando Valley, a scan that may only take a few minutes can still consume hours of a patient’s time.

However, these difficulties are not exclusive to LA. Nationwide, the need and support for cardiac CT continue to increase, particularly as guidelines change and preventive healthcare gains importance. Nevertheless, access to diagnostic imaging remains restricted, especially outside major hospitals or academic institutions. Numerous facilities provide only limited time allocated for cardiovascular imaging. Additional centers may still necessitate a physician’s referral before patients can even arrange a scan.

Significance of timely cardiac CT scans

While logistical hurdles to accessing cardiac CT scans inconvenience patients, they also influence the standard of care that patients can receive. Numerous centers utilize older-generation scanners that aren’t optimized for cardiovascular imaging. These devices frequently encounter issues with motion artifacts, demand rigorous heart rate management, and subject patients to higher radiation doses. For individuals with irregular heart rhythms, this could lead to non-diagnostic results, the requirement for rescans, or overlooked findings altogether.

Simultaneously, the demand for earlier diagnosis is escalating, especially as heart disease becomes increasingly prevalent among younger adults. Cardiovascular disease stands as the foremost cause of death in the United States, with nearly one out of five cardiovascular fatalities occurring in adults younger than 65 in 2022.

Cardiac CT is now acknowledged as a primary test for assessing stable chest pain and evaluating coronary artery disease. Leading clinical organizations endorse its utilization as the preferred initial examination in numerous scenarios, emphasizing its capacity to detect disease early, inform preventive care, and minimize unnecessary invasive procedures. However, the scan’s impact is only significant when patients can obtain it.

A patient-centered solution

Modern scanners are designed specifically for cardiovascular applications, integrating expansive anatomical coverage, rapid rotation speeds, and single-heartbeat imaging capabilities. They provide high-resolution images with reduced radiation exposure, lower contrast use, and minimal patient preparation.

These technologies also diminish motion artifacts, even in individuals with high or unstable heart rates, thereby decreasing the likelihood of rescans and ensuring consistent diagnostic quality on the initial attempt. Consequently, clinicians can finish scans in just a few minutes and deliver clear results more efficiently.

This innovation has enabled the provision of dedicated cardiac CT services beyond traditional hospital frameworks. The availability of a specialized scanner has streamlined everything from scheduling to scan analysis. Patients can directly schedule appointments, view their scans prior to departure, and sidestep the delays commonly linked to referral processes.

Allowing patients to observe and comprehend their scans introduces a level of clarity and engagement that is frequently absent in conventional imaging settings. Many also appreciate the experience offered in a smaller, focused environment. Knowing their scan is performed using specialized equipment and interpreted by a cardiologist instills confidence in the results.

Providing cardiac CT in an outpatient context aids in avoiding the delays that can prevent patients from receiving early diagnoses, particularly those who may not easily access hospital-based imaging services.

What local cardiac imaging enables

Patients increasingly seek direct access to diagnostic tools, not out of a desire to circumvent their doctors, but for quicker answers, fewer obstacles, and greater control over their health. Concurrently, imaging technologies are progressing. Automation and post-processing innovations are simplifying the interpretation of results, while contemporary scanners facilitate rapid, low-dose imaging without necessitating large facility infrastructures.

Independent outpatient centers are ideally positioned to address this demand. They can swiftly adapt and deliver high-quality imaging within a more focused and accessible setting, particularly in densely populated urban areas where care choices may abound but are challenging to reach due to high population concentration.

With modern technology, cardiac CT scans can be performed swiftly, safely, and precisely in clinics of various sizes. Although these scanners continue to fulfill essential functions in hospitals, they also have a vital role in community-based care. Ultimately, when it comes to heart health, seeing is knowing, and knowing sooner makes a significant difference. Initial initiatives like My Heart Vision are illustrating how specialized outpatient cardiac CT centers can broaden access and satisfy growing patient demand.

Benjamin Cohen is a cardiologist.