Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 24, 2005 - During the month of September, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville is offering HeartScore™ – a test that can detect heart disease before symptoms appear – at a reduced cost of $99.

Recent research has shown a direct correlation between the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries and the likelihood of a future heart attack. HeartScore, or coronary calcium scoring, is a special noninvasive computerized tomography scan of the heart that measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries. The amount and density of the calcium determine the calculation of a calcium score. HeartScore is appropriate for men and women, ages 40 to 70, with certain risk factors. The regular price of HeartScore is $169.

“Coronary calcium scoring is important because it can detect coronary artery disease noninvasively.” said Robert Optican, M.D., a cardiac radiologist at Mid-South Imaging and Therapeutics. “This allows patients and their physicians to begin aggressive treatment regimens to slow the acceleration of the disease process and reduce the risk for heart attacks.”

Three other metro-Memphis Baptist hospitals offer HeartScore™ – Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown and Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto. Patients must provide the name of a physician who can receive the results of their HeartScore test.

For more information, please call (901) 861-8895 or visit http://collierville.baptistonline.org. To schedule your HeartScore test, please call (901) 861-8900.

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