In honor of American Heart Month, the screening will be offered at a discounted rate of $50.
TUPELO, Miss. – North Mississippi Health Services is expanding low-cost heart screening at four additional locations.

All six locations will offer discounted screenings for $50 in honor of American Heart Month for those who request an appointment in February.

“By investing in upgraded CT scanners at our hospitals, we are able to increase access to heart imaging tests across our region,” said Gary Tedford, NMHS system director for radiology. “We want to bring this potentially life-saving screening as close to home as possible.” 

In partnership with Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi, the screenings to identify a person’s risk for heart disease have been offered at the CANM office in Tupelo and North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point. 

Now the screening tests are also available:

• North Mississippi Medical Center Gilmore-Amory
• North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka
• North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc
• North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton (Alabama)

“Being aware of your risk for coronary artery disease is extremely important, particularly in those with a family history or other risk factors,” says Dr. Roger Williams, president of Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi. “The sooner someone realizes they are at increased risk, the better, as preventive treatment can begin. Heart screenings are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to establish your level of risk. Like our grandparents said, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!’”

NMHS teams are working to expand access for heart screening tests to North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora and North Mississippi Health Services-South Marion in Winfield, Alabama, in the future.

Open to patients age 35 and older, the screening includes three tests to gauge your cardiac risk.

The screening includes:

• Calcium Score: Using a CT scan, the coronary calcium score looks for specks of calcium in the walls of heart arteries, which can indicate early heart disease.
• EKG (Electrocardiogram): Measures the electrical activity of the heart.
• Lipid profile: This blood test measures levels for total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

Outside of February, the screening is available for $95. Insurance is not filed for the low-cost heart screening.

Learn more about heart screening and request an appointment by visiting nmhs.net/heart-screening or calling 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).