{"id":140678,"date":"2025-02-28T19:52:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T00:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=140678"},"modified":"2025-02-28T19:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T00:52:43","slug":"st-lukes-is-first-in-the-lehigh-valley-to-offer-novel-non-invasive-test-for-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=140678","title":{"rendered":"St. Luke\u2019s is First in the Lehigh Valley to Offer Novel, Non-Invasive Test for Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caption: With Heartflow, a scan is transformed into a dynamic, personalized 3D model of the heart, assessing anatomy and physiology.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis can help more accurately determine if a person with suspected coronary artery disease should be treated for heart disease.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network\u00a0now offers a proven, non-invasive diagnostic option for people with suspected heart disease: Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis. This test may reduce the need for invasive cardiac testing and is offered hospitals throughout the Network.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works: Computed tomography (a CT scan) is combined with fractional flow reserve (FFR). This measures the ratio of blood flow in a potentially diseased and narrowed coronary artery to blood flow in the same artery when not constricted. Trained analysts using AI algorithms then create an anatomical model of a person\u2019s heart that helps physicians visualize the blood flow and detect stenosis, or plaque, that obstructs the blood flow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistorically, we have been faced with either using tests that were frequently inaccurate or putting a patient through an invasive procedure just to determine whether they would need another invasive procedure to restore blood flow,\u201d said David Furman, MD, St. Luke\u2019s Medical Director of Computed Tomography. \u201cThe Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis completely changes this paradigm, providing essential information that can help us determine the right approach for a patient through a convenient, non-invasive platform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States, and coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease, affecting nearly half the adult population. CAD develops when the arteries leading to the heart narrow or become blocked, which may lead to a reduction in blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain, heart attacks and death. Identifying exactly where and how an artery is blocked or clogged can help improve a person\u2019s treatment plan — including whether or not an intervention is needed.<\/p>\n

Despite CAD being the most common form of heart disease, studies have shown there is a need to improve how and when CAD is evaluated and diagnosed. Many of the non-invasive tests available today offer a low accuracy rate in detecting CAD. About 4 million diagnostic tests are conducted on patients with chest pain suspected of having CAD each year in the U.S. — many of which are unnecessary.<\/p>\n

Purujit Thacker, MD, St. Luke’s cardiologist with expertise in advanced cardiac imaging, also highlighted the benefits of this innovation: “As a cardiologist, my greatest satisfaction comes from preventing heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular events. The Heartflow Analysis enhances our ability to detect and address heart conditions before they become critical, ensuring our patients receive the best possible care.”<\/p>\n

Recognized by professional guidelines; backed by data<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis offers the highest diagnostic accuracy available from a non-invasive test.\u00a0 Additionally, in clinical trials, using the Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis helped identify which patients do and do not need invasive treatment. The use of the Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis also reduced the cost of care by 26% compared to usual care.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis will help us develop the most appropriate treatment plan for a patient with coronary artery disease without the need for unnecessary and stressful procedures,\u201d Dr. Thacker said. \u201cThis is game-changing technology that will be beneficial for both our patients and the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n

A regional leader in cardiac imaging<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Heartflow is one of several innovative cardiac imaging technologies offered at St. Luke\u2019s. For patients with symptoms of coronary artery disease, St. Luke\u2019s offers Nuclear Medicine PET Stress Testing, a fast and painless pharmacologic diagnostic test completed in 30 minutes or less.\u00a0\u00a0Individuals concerned about their heart health can self-refer for a Coronary Calcium Scoring CT Scan. Offered at mutliple locations throughout the Network, this fast, painless test checks for calcium in the coronary arteries. This screening CT is $99 and gives a detailed cardiac risk profile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 1872,\u00a0St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue of $4 billion, the Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school campus. It also operates the nation\u2019s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke\u2019s, a member of the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction. St. Luke\u2019s is a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World\u2019s Best Hospital. The Network\u2019s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Fortune\/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in\u00a02021 when it was identified as\u00a0THE #1 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.\u00a0In 2021, St. Luke\u2019s was also identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.<\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nSam Kennedy<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Caption: With Heartflow, a scan is transformed into a dynamic, personalized 3D model of the heart, assessing anatomy and physiology. Heartflow FFR-CT Analysis can help more accurately determine if a … Continue reading St. Luke\u2019s is First in the Lehigh Valley to Offer Novel, Non-Invasive Test for Heart Disease<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140680,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69,482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley","category-press-release-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ffrct.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140678"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=140678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/140680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=140678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=140678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=140678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}