Did you know that the leading cause of death is heart disease? Additionally, heart disease costs over $360 billion each year. Healthcare facilities can benefit from accurate and timely echocardiogram interpretations.
These tests are critical in diagnosing various cardiac conditions. It can also assess how someone responds to treatment. However, finding the right cardiology network is challenging.
You need a network that helps provide timely echo reads in today’s busy healthcare industry.
Do you want to know what goes behind interpreting echocardiograms accurately? Keep reading on for a complete guide on echocardiogram interpretations.
What Is an Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram, sometimes called an ‘echo,’ is a type of ultrasound that looks at how your heart functions. At its core, an ultrasound uses sound waves that help create a picture. When you look at echocardiogram reads, you can’t neglect ultrasound interpretations – both of them go hand in hand.
What can echo reads show? For starters, it helps diagnose issues related to the heart muscle and valves. Some of the diagnoses an echocardiogram shows are:
- Heart disease
- Heart valve problems
- Heart defects
- Blood clots
- Tumors
- Thickened heart ventricles
- Pleural effusion
- Pericardial effusion
There are many types of echocardiograms, and each has its purposes and function. The five main types include:
- Intravascular
- Dobutamine stress echo
- Stress echo
- Transesophageal echo
- Transthoracic echo
Arguably, the most common types are transthoracic and stress echos. These are non-invasive echocardiograms. Knowledgeable cardiologists and qualified physicians will read both non-invasive and invasive tests accurately.
Types of Echo Imaging
Interpreting an echocardiogram starts by understanding types of echo imaging. The three most common imaging are 2D, M-mode, and doppler.
Two-dimensional imaging is one of the more popular forms, and you can determine abnormal structures or movements. M-mode is more useful if you are taking measurements – the benefits of accurate measurements are discussed further below.
Echocardiogram Interpretations
An echocardiogram gives you an image of the heart. Interpretations of an echocardiogram include measurements and visual observations.
Here are a few key points that an echo reading should outline:
- Size and thickness of the heart and ventricles
- Function of ventricles
- Shape and function of heart valves
- Any other abnormalities noted
Heart failure is one of the more common diagnoses seen in cardiology. An echocardiogram is one of the leading tools to help providers accurately diagnose heart failure.
You can observe the moving images and gather data on ejection fraction rates. Left-sided heart failure is usually more common and is diagnosed if the ejection fraction is less than 40 percent.
Sometimes, the left ventricle does not fully relax when filling with blood. This situation is also considered heart failure since not enough blood is distributed.
Another way you can look at this is through cardiac output numbers. Measuring cardiac output numbers and heart failure indicators takes a lot of practice. Cardiologists learn this skill and are the most qualified.
Heart Valves and Other Conditions
What else can echo reads tell a patient? You can accurately measure heart wall thickness, which indicates damage to heart valves.
An echo shows a patient’s heart valves’ movement, including the opening and closing. When heart valves are not fully closing, it can lead to a leaky valve and backflow into the heart ventricles.
There are many healthy images of heart muscles, valves, and arteries. One of the main tools needed for echocardiogram interpretations is standardized norms.
Skilled cardiologists can also diagnose holes in the heart and other structural abnormalities. They base standardized norms on age, gender, and other factors.
Critical mistakes happen when someone isn’t qualified or skilled at reading echo reads. Ultimately, this can lead to false diagnoses and treatments that prove detrimental to the patient and hospital.
Telehealth Solutions
Telecardiology solutions fall under the telehealth umbrella. It can give patients better access to cardiologists and improve wait times.
A sonographer typically administers the test during an ultrasound reading. Afterward, a qualified physician can interpret it.
Other individuals might access the echo and help with the written report. The detailed report should include any abnormalities and provide diagnoses.
At this time, it might be beneficial for a cardiologist to consult with a patient through a telehealth platform. Physicians and health providers can review the results and discuss treatment plans.
Echocardiograms are great tools for assessing how a patient is handling treatments. For example, a clinician might note a blood clot in the ultrasound reading. They will have reason to suspect this patient is at high risk for a pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack.
Starting someone on blood thinners or other appropriate medication could help lower one’s risk. After a certain period has passed, you can perform another echo reading. This gives you an idea of how effective treatments are as you compare the two.
Benefits of Telehealth in Rural Communities
Rural hospitals and facilities can significantly benefit from the advantages of telehealth. More specifically, they can benefit from telecardiology. Cardiology is a specialty that is mainly found in larger hospitals or outpatient facilities.
This problem leads to inadequate health care for people who live further from these towns.
It can also place added strain on health systems. In these places, other clinicians take on responsibilities they don’t have adequate training in.
Telehealth bridges this gap. It allows hospitals, facilities, and patients greater access to qualified professionals.
Studies show that telehealth is effective and can be a long-term solution for rural communities. These cardiologists can provide quick, easy, and accurate echo readings. They can also follow up on treatment plans and consult with other physicians.
Finding Your Telehealth Professional
Understanding echocardiogram interpretations takes skill and practice. Qualified health practitioners have spent years learning average values and comparing echo reads. For better patient outcomes, a network of skilled practitioners can help give your facility the edge it needs.
We have Board-Certified cardiologists who can help interpret echocardiograms quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to get your facility set up with skilled professionals across the country. You can take the first step to broadening your telecardiology sector.
