What is Echocardiography?
Echocardiography uses ultrasound to make a picture of the heart. Ultrasound is transmitted using a small microphone, called a transducer. The transducer sends sound waves that bounce off parts of the heart. A computer calculates the time it takes the sound waves to travel to and from the heart, and then reconstructs the shape of the heart on the basis of the information. The image is displayed on a television screen, and it can be recorded on disk, videotape or printed on paper.
Is it Safe?
The echocardiogram test is very safe. There are no known risks from the ultrasound waves. It is also painless, even though you may feel a slight discomfort when the transducer is held firmly against the chest.
I Want to Know More About My Procedure:
Results to your doctor within one business day
Your doctor will receive your results within one business day via fax or directly to your physician's office or home. DHS Echocardiography Services utilizes long distance transmission of images from our machines to your doctor's office or home so that he or she can read your echo any time.
Easy scheduling with convenient hours
Visit our four locations: The New Danbury Hospital Medical Arts Center, Danbury Hospital Cardiology Department, Southbury Cardiovascular center and Ridgefield Cardiology. The Danbury Hospital Echocardiography Laboratory is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (inpatient only) 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to meet the needs of working families.
Billing / Insurance Questions
- If your primary care physician (PCP) referred you to a cardiologist, your insurance plan may require a referral. Ask your PCP's office staff to verify if your plan has this requirement.
- Many insurance plans require a Transesophagael echocardiogram (TEE) to be preauthorized. Ask the office staff of the ordering doctor to verify if your plan requires authorization.
For scheduling and appointment information, please call the Danbury Contact Center at: 203-739-4999.
About the Echocardiography Laboratory
Danbury Hospital's Echocardiography Laboratory is the largest provider of echo services in the Danbury area and is a leader in the echocardiography field at both the local and national level.
Danbury Hospital's Echocardiography Laboratory is the first lab in Fairfield County to be accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories as well as being one of the first 50 labs in the world to receive this accreditation. The Lab is accredited in all three major areas of echocardiography including Transthoracic Echo, Transesophageal Echo, and Stress Echocardiography. At Danbury Hospital, you have access to the latest equipment and to technical and professional staff who possess extensive experience in all aspects of echocardiography.
