Test Instructions/Preparations

• Exercise Stress Testing/Exercise Stress Echocardiogram
• Nuclear Cardiology Stress Tests/PET Scans
• Transesophogeal Echocardiogram (TEE)
• Cardiac Catheterization Lab
• Arrhythmia Procedures

Instructions for Exercise Stress Testing/Exercise Stress Echocardiogram

1. Please do not eat or drink (except water) four hours before your scheduled test.  Diabetic Patients: You can have a light meal before you present to your appointment.  Call the office if you have any additional questions.
2. Please wear sneakers or rubber sole shoes.
3. Please wear comfortable clothing which allow for exercise.
4. Please do not apply any skin creams, lotions or powders to your chest area on the day of your test.
5. Please do not take your Beta Blocker or Calcium Channel Blocker the day before or the day of your test.

Beta Blockers include:

• Lopressor, Toprol-XL (metoprolol)
• Coreg (carvedilol)
• Tenormin (atenolol)
• Normodyne, Trandate (labetalol)
• Inderal (propanolol)
• Zebeta (bisoprolol)

Calcium Channel Blockers include:

• Cardizem (diltiazem)
• Verapimi

Note: If you are unable to walk quickly on a treadmill (i.e., you use a cane), please call the office to ensure you can proceed with the test.

Please have your physician submit the Non-Invasive Cardiology Test Requisition Form to schedule an appointment.  Exercise Stress Tests and Exercise Stress Echocardiograms can be scheduled at the following locations.  Please call the respective number with any questions:

• Phillips Ambulatory Care Center  (212) 844 – 8830
• Greenpoint  (718) 752 – 7280
• Upper East Side (212) 870 – 9497
• Warren W. Chin, M.D., PC (Chinatown) (212) 431 – 8808
• Chinatown Cardiology PC (212) 334 – 3507
• Beth Israel Medical Group (212)   252 - 6066

Instructions for Nuclear Cardiology Stress Tests/PET Scans

1. Nothing to eat or drink (except water) 4 hours before your test time.
2. No caffeine 24 hours before your test (no coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa cola, most carbonated drinks including medications such as Davron, Anacin, Excedrin and Fiorinol).
3. Please wear or bring sneakers or rubber soled shoes for the treadmill.
4. Please wear or bring comfortable clothes that allow for exercise.
5. Please do not take your Beta Blocker the night before or morning of your test

Beta Blockers include:

• Sectral (acebutolol)
• Zebeta (bisoprolol)
• Brevibloc (esmolol)
• Inderal (propanolol)
• Tenormin (atenolol)
• Normodyne, Trandate (labetalol)
• Coreg (carvedilol)
• Lopressor, Toprol-XL (metoprolol)

• For female patients a negative pregnancy test is required within 5 days before your appointment.
• Please bring your medications (or list of medications with dosages) with you to your appointment.
• This procedure takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
• If you have any questions please call the office at (212) 420 – 2092.

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Instructions for Transesophogeal Echocardiogram (TEE)

1. You must not eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the TEE.  Ask your doctor if you can take your usual medication(s).
2. Please tell the doctor before the exam if you have any problems swallowing or if you have had any problems with sedation or anesthesia in the past.
3. You will be asked to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the procedure.
4. You MUST bring a responsible adult with you to escort you home.

If you have any questions please call the office at (212) 420 – 2068.

Pre-Procedure Instructions for Cardiac Catheterization Lab

1. What to bring with you:
• Insurance Cards
• A list of your medications (including dosage) or medications in their bottles.
2. Medication Instructions:
• Stop taking Coumadin/Warfarin three to five days prior to procedure.
• Do not take Glucophage/Metformin/Glucovance on the day of your scheduled procedure.
• Take all other morning medications.
3. Eating/Drinking:
• Do not eat/drink anything after midnight if your procedure is between 7AM and 10AM.
• Light breakfast if your procedure is between 11AM and 4PM.
• Take water with morning medications on the day of the procedure.
4. Day of procedure instructions:
• You may brush your teeth and gargle.
• If you wear contact lenses, please leave them at home and wear glasses.
• Do not bring any valuables, i.e. jewelry, check book or more than $10 in cash.
5. Special points for diabetics:
• Take ½ the dose of any anti-diabetic medicine or insulin on the day of your procedure.
• Do not take Glucophage/Metformin/Glucovance on the day of your scheduled procedure.
6. What to expect:
• Potential delays due to unscheduled emergencies.
• A potential overnight stay based on the outcome of your procedure

If you have any questions please call the Cardiac Cath Lab office at (212) 420 – 2416.

Instructions for Arrhythmia Procedures

Cardioversion

If taking Coumadin (Warfarin), continue to take your medication as usual. You must have your INR level checked 1-2 days prior to procedure.

Tilt Table Test

Nothing to eat or drink the morning of the test. Bring a light snack to your appointment.

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Instructions for the following tests/studies/procedures

• Electrophysiology Studies (EPS)
• Non-Invasive EPS (NIPS)
• Defibrillator Threshold (DFT)
• Ablation
• Cryo Cath Ablation
• Pacemaker Implants
• ICD Implants
• Lead Revisions
• Battery Changes

• Bloodwork is to be done 1 week prior to the test.
• Nothing to eat after midnight the night before the test.
• Bring all medications to Beth Israel Medical Center – EPS Lab on the day of the test.
• Stop taking the following medication(s) before your procedure:
• Medications:
• Sotalol  - 3 to 4 days before
• Coumadin (Warfarin) – 3 to 4 days before
• Beta Blockers – 5 to 6 days before
• If you are on Aspirin (Ecotrin) please continue taking medication, until physician says otherwise.
• If you are diabetic and take Insulin, take ½ of your AM dose.  Notify the EPS Lab if you take Glucophage.  Do not restart taking Glucophage after the exam until instructed by the physician.
• There is a 5 to 6 hours recovery time after the Electrophysiology procedure.
• Bring your insurance card with you to the hospital on the day of the exam.
• Notify the Electrophysiology Lab if you have any allergies to Iodine or shellfish, or if you have asthma prior to the exam.

Instructions for the day of procedure:

• ESCORT – It is a state requirement that all patients having sedation must have a responsible adult to escort them home if not staying overnight.
• If you are unable to keep your appointment or have any questions, please contact the Electrophysiology Lab at (212) 844-1266

Calculate your body mass index

Please refer to the Body Mass Index Calculator below to compute your BMI.

Patient Forms

Please click on the following links below to fill out our patient forms online:

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Useful Links

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• American Heart Association
• American Stroke Association
• Continuum Health Partners
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Appointment Request Form

To request an appointment with the Heart Institute, please complete the information below.
Our staff will contact you (excluding weekends and holidays) within 48 hours to schedule your appointment.

Prescription Refill Request
 
The Heart Institute Physicians and nurse practitioners will prescribe
medication as part of patients care. If non-cardiac medications are
required, please contact your primary physician.

Medications are refilled Monday through Friday during business hours
(8:30am - 4:30p.m.) excluding holidays. Please allow 48 hours for all
request to be processed. Medications are not refilled on evenings or
weekends.

Click here to fill out our Prescription Refill Request Form.

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