Gunnison Valley Health Now Offering Pediatric Cardiac Ultrasounds

Gunnison Valley Health is excited to announce a new partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado that brings Pediatric Cardiac Ultrasounds to patients of Gunnison Valley Health.  The tests will be completed at Gunnison Valley Health and read by Children’s pediatric cardiologists eliminating the need to travel outside of the valley for care. 

According to Gunnison Valley Health’s Chief of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, Stetson Lusk, this resource has never been available in Gunnison, and parents have had to drive to either Grand Junction or Denver to receive needed testing. 

“We are excited that we can offer a service here in Gunnison that allows patients to stay in the valley, rather than having to travel on winter roads and through construction to seek testing,” said Lusk. 

Not all children need to receive ultrasounds but the test will be ordered in several situations. It can be used to help diagnose a newborn when they find a heart murmur or help a student athlete who might pass out while participating in sports or other activities. The ultrasound can be used to determine if a child with a family history of congenital heart disease is affected by the disease. 

The ultrasound is the same service offered to adult patients. It is painless, and the echocardiograph staff will walk you and your child through the procedure. It is also a relatively fast procedure, taking between thirty and sixty minutes to complete. The procedure can be completed on any age of child, and it poses no dangers to the child. You as a parent can be present throughout the entire test, and parents can help ease the child’s worry and anxiety.  

To learn more about pediatric cardiac ultrasounds or other services, you can contact the Gunnison Valley Health Cardiopulmonary department at 970-641-7295.