Our Approach to Arrhythmia Care

At Kettering Health, cutting-edge heart and vascular care is close to home. We’re here to help you navigate the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of a heart arrhythmia, often known as an irregular heartbeat.

Your physician may suspect a heart arrhythmia if you feel any of the following:

• A fluttering sensation in your chest
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Or even anxiety 

Why Choose Us?

Usually, patients are seen by a general cardiologist after they’re diagnosed with an arrhythmia. The cardiologist may then refer the patient to an electrophysiologist (EP) as needed. Now, patients with an arrhythmia diagnosis can schedule directly with an EP.

Next-Day Appointments

How It Works

We’re making it easier than ever to start your care journey. Our Electrophysiology team now offers appointments within 24 hours, Monday-Friday, because timely care can make all the difference.We want everyone to have access, but not everyone needs to be seen the next day. Call our Access Center at (866) 224-9472 to talk with one of our triage staff or nurses, and discuss your symptoms and appointment options.

What to Expect

During your initial consultation, we will review your symptoms, family history, and any testing you have already done. From there, we will order any additional testing to complete at your convenience. This may include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Measures the electrical activity of your heart. Electrodes are placed on your body (chest, arms, and legs) to generate your heart’s electrical activity. An ECG can show the presence of arrhythmias, damage to your heart caused by ischemia, myocardial infarction (MI), valve problems, or other heart conditions. ECGs may be done while lying down (resting or signal-averaged ECG) or exercising (stress ECG).
• Electrophysiologic Studies (EPS): A nonsurgical but invasive test using a catheter inserted into a blood vessel and advanced to your heart to locate the arrhythmia’s origin.
• Holter Monitor: A small, portable ECG recorder that records 24 hours of electrocardiographic signals.
• Event Monitor: Similar to a Holter monitor, but records only when symptoms occur. Typically worn longer and can be removed for bathing.
• Implantable Loop Recorder: A miniature device implanted under the skin that records heart rhythm for up to 2 years. Useful for diagnosing intermediate or rarely occurring arrhythmias.

After testing is completed, these results will help us create the best treatment plan for you. Follow-up may include a combination of treatment options such as medications, procedures, devices, and lifestyle changes, along with long-term rhythm management to support your ongoing heart health.