Daviess Community Hospital (DCH) is proud to highlight the life-saving impact of its Calcium Heart Scan through the testimony of Mike Williams, a local patient who benefited from the test.

On March 7, Williams, the father of DCH’s Chief Financial Officer April Settles, underwent a Calcium Heart Scan at the hospital. The results revealed a score of 1,557, indicating severe calcification. To put this into perspective, a score of 400 or more is considered a severe risk for heart disease.

“If he didn’t have this test, we wouldn’t have known of his risks and that he needed to make immediate changes in his diet and exercise routines,” said Settles. “Thankfully, we caught this soon enough so that we do have the time and ability to make changes before he had a heart attack or anything worse.”

Settles elaborated on her father’s experience, stating, “For my dad, just this past March he was the third test patient here at DCH for our new $49 heart scan. This test helps to determine if you are at risk of a heart attack or heart disease. Everything with the test went smoothly until we received his test results. A test score of 400 is considered high. My dad’s score was 1,557. After a significant amount of testing, a stress test finally showed an abnormality, and the Ascension cardiologists told us that it was time for him to go to the cath lab at the Heart Center in Indy. With that procedure, we learned that even though he has two 50% blockages, this simple $49 heart test likely saved his life. He can now be proactive and make the necessary changes to his diet and exercise to prevent a heart attack.”

Williams, reflecting on his unexpected diagnosis, shared, “I really didn’t expect them to find anything. It was a surprise at what they found. With six grandkids, I’d like to see them all through their sports and through college, and that’s why I really recommend people to have this test.”

DCH offers the Calcium Heart Scan to promote and encourage cardiac health and preventative care. The scan, priced at just $49, is quick, easy, and painless, requiring no injections or fasting. Conducted in the Radiology Department, Calcium Heart Scan results are mailed to patients promptly.

To schedule an appointment for a Calcium Heart Scan or for additional information, please call (812) 254-9324.