With Addition of Full-time Cardiologist, Wayne Memorial Hospital Now Offering Cardiac CTs

Dr. Stern

Residents in the Jesup and surrounding communities have one less reason to travel elsewhere for healthcare with the addition of fulltime cardiologist Dr. Gary Stern and an additional diagnostic tool in the Cardiac CT. Recruiting physicians from outside the area results in many benefits for the public, including those physicians bringing with them best practices.




Stern says, “Undergoing a cardiac CT is similar to a non-invasive angiogram. And patients don't have to travel to Savannah now for a closer look at their heart because we can offer it here now.”
What is a Cardiac CT exactly? The formal name, Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (or CCTA), is a heart imaging test that assists in determining if plaque buildup has narrowed a patient’s coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart, according to radiologyinfo.org.

The test may take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the needs of the patient. The patient receives through an intravenous injection a contrast dye. Images may be viewed on a computer monitor, printed on film or moved to a DVD or CD

Radiologist Dr. Gordon Greene adds, “The cardiac CT is a great tool and Wayne Memorial is way ahead of other hospitals in offering this to their patients. Adding this to their slate of existing services is an appropriate step in the detection of cardiovascular disease and in the prevention of sudden cardiac death.” Dr. Greene adds, “Eventually, the cardiac CT will be a diagnostic mainstay.” A cardiac specialist and/or a primary care physician may order the test, which is then performed by a radiologist and appropriate staff.



Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a new state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the fourth largest employer in Wayne County with 400 employees, 84 beds and is a Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year.