Preparing for your echocardiogram

What to bring

• Your referral letter from your GP or specialist
• Your Medicare card
• A list of your current medications
• Any prior cardiac test results or reports you have copies of (optional but helpful)

If you have private health insurance, you’re welcome to bring your card, but it’s not required. We bulk-bill through Medicare.

What to wear

Wear loose-fitting clothing on the day, particularly something with easy access to your chest. You’ll be asked to change into a gown for the scan, so a top that’s easy to remove is ideal.

Eating, drinking, and medications

No preparation is needed. You can eat, drink, and take your medications as normal before your appointment.

If you’re on any medications that affect your heart rate or rhythm and your doctor has given you specific instructions, please follow those.

Arrival

Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time to allow for check-in.

You’ll receive an SMS reminder the day before your appointment.

Special notes

If you have any of the following, please let your sonographer know when you arrive so they can adapt the scan technique appropriately:

• A pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD)
• Previous cardiac surgery
• A known chest wall abnormality
• Difficulty lying flat or on your left side

If you forget your referral

Don’t worry. If you forget your referral on the day, you can:

• Email a copy to admin@melbourneechoclinic.com.au, or
• Ask your doctor’s clinic to send it directly to us

We’ll do our best to accommodate your appointment.