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Before Your Visit

Everything You Need to Know
Before Your Appointment.

We want your experience at Apex Heart & Imaging to be clear, comfortable, and completely free of surprises. Read through the preparation instructions for your specific appointment type below.

Preparation Instructions

How to Prepare for Your Specific Appointment

Instructions vary depending on your appointment type. Find yours below. If you have any questions, call us at (614) 363-8561 — we answer every call.

Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA)
45–60 minutes · IV contrast used · Read carefully
No food or drink for 4 hours before (water is fine)
No caffeine for 12 hours before — coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks
No Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra for 48 hours before your appointment
Take all regular medications as usual with a small sip of water
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with no metal (no underwire bras, belts with large buckles)
If you have a known contrast allergy, call us before your appointment so we can arrange pre-medication
If you have kidney disease or your eGFR is below 30, please notify us when scheduling
You can drive yourself — no sedation is used and there is no recovery time
Coronary Calcium Score (CAC)
15–20 minutes · No prep required at all
No preparation required of any kind
No fasting, no caffeine restriction, no medication changes
No IV or contrast injection
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
Drive yourself — you can resume all activities immediately after
Your scan takes approximately 10 seconds
Results reviewed by Dr. Akel and sent to your doctor the same day
Cardiology Consultation
45–60 minutes (new patient) · 20–30 min (follow-up)
Bring a complete list of your current medications and dosages
Bring your insurance card and a photo ID
If you have had prior cardiac testing (EKG, echo, stress test, cath), bring records or have them faxed to us in advance: (614) 363-8561
Write down your questions in advance — Dr. Akel will answer every one
No fasting required
An EKG is performed at every consultation visit — included in the visit fee
Echocardiogram
30–45 minutes · Physician-read same day
No preparation required for a standard (TTE) echocardiogram
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing — you will need to partially undress above the waist
For stress echocardiogram: no caffeine the day of; wear comfortable shoes you can walk in on a treadmill
No IV is required for a standard echo
Results reviewed by Dr. Akel and reported the same day
Day of Your Visit

What to Bring

Every Visit
Photo ID
Insurance card (both sides)
Current medication list (names and dosages)
Your written questions for Dr. Akel
Payment for copay or cash-pay services
If You Have Them
Prior EKG, stress test, or echo reports
Recent lab results (cholesterol, glucose, kidney function)
Prior cardiac catheterization report
Referring physician's note or order
Surgeon's note (for pre-op clearance visits)
Can't find your prior records?
Call us before your appointment and we'll help you request records from your prior providers. Alternatively, have your previous cardiologist or PCP fax records to us at (614) 363-8561.
After Your Visit

What Happens Next

After your appointment, Dr. Akel will review your study and send a structured written report to your referring physician within 24 hours. If you are a self-referred patient, we will send your results directly to you.

If there is anything urgent or critical in your results, Dr. Akel will contact you and your referring physician directly by phone the same day — before the written report is sent.

We encourage you to share your results with your primary care physician. We are happy to communicate directly with any other treating physician on your behalf — just let us know.

Results Timeline
Calcium Score (CAC)
Same day — Dr. Akel reads during or immediately after your visit
CCTA
Same day read · Written report to your physician within 24 hours
Echocardiogram
Same day read · Written report within 24 hours
Cardiology Consultation
Dr. Akel discusses findings with you before you leave · Written note within 24 hours
Urgent / Critical Findings
Dr. Akel calls your physician directly, same day — before the written report
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral?
For insurance-covered services, most plans require a referral from your primary care physician. For cash-pay services — including calcium scoring ($199) and our executive cardiac screening package ($799) — no referral is needed. You can schedule directly by calling us or booking online.
How long will my appointment take?
Calcium scoring: 15–20 minutes from arrival to departure. CCTA: 45–60 minutes including prep and post-contrast monitoring. New patient cardiology consultation: 45–60 minutes. Established visit: 20–30 minutes. Echocardiogram: 30–45 minutes.
When will I get my results?
Dr. Akel reads every study the same day it is performed. Results are reported to your referring physician within 24 hours. Self-referred patients receive results directly within 24 hours. If there is anything urgent, Dr. Akel calls the same day.
What if I have a contrast allergy?
Please call us before your CCTA appointment so we can arrange a pre-medication protocol (usually oral prednisone and Benadryl taken before the scan). A known contrast allergy does not necessarily mean you cannot have the scan — it means we take extra precautions. Calcium scoring does not use contrast and is always safe for patients with contrast allergies.
Can I drive myself to and from my appointment?
Yes. We do not use sedation at Apex Heart & Imaging. The contrast dye used in CCTA does not impair driving. You can drive yourself to and from all appointments.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept Medicare, Anthem BCBS Ohio, Medical Mutual of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna. If your insurance is not listed, please call us — we may still be able to see you as an out-of-network provider and provide a superbill for reimbursement. We also offer transparent cash-pay pricing for all services.
What is a CAD-RADS score and what does it mean?
CAD-RADS (Coronary Artery Disease — Reporting and Data System) is the standardized reporting system Dr. Akel uses for every CCTA. It grades your coronary artery stenosis from 0 (no plaque) to 5 (total blockage) and includes a specific management recommendation. It is the ACC/AHA-endorsed standard of care for cardiac CT reporting. Dr. Akel will explain your score at your appointment and in his written report.
What if I am nervous about being in the scanner?
Our dedicated cardiac CT scanner is not an enclosed MRI tube. It is an open, wide-bore ring that you pass through quickly. The actual scan takes less than 10 seconds. Many patients who are anxious about medical imaging find this scanner much more comfortable than they expected. Our team is experienced in supporting anxious patients — please tell us if you have concerns when you arrive.

Still Have Questions?

Call us at (614) 363-8561 — we answer every call personally. No phone trees. No call-back queues.

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