Possible heart attack symptoms need emergency care, not a routine clinic EKG. Call 911 for chest pressure or discomfort with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, or fainting. Do not drive yourself.
EKG Testing in Charlotte
Walk in for an EKG (also called an ECG) at our Steele Creek and Plaza Midwood clinics in Charlotte, open 7 days. The test takes about 5-10 minutes, and your provider reads it and goes over the results with you in the same visit. With insurance, you pay your plan’s copay, coinsurance or deductible, and copays for covered visits with most NC Medicaid plans are usually $0 or $4; confirm coverage and costs. Self-pay is $140 for the visit plus $80 for the EKG.
- ✓ EKGs at both clinics, no appointment needed
- ✓ Your provider reads the EKG during your visit
- ✓ Checks for a racing heart, skipped beats, dizziness and anxiety symptoms
- ✓ Pre-op clearance EKGs before surgery
- ✓ In network with most NC Medicaid plans; confirm your specific plan
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¿Necesita un electrocardiograma (EKG)? Venga sin cita a cualquiera de nuestras clínicas, 7 días a la semana.
On this page
Why get an EKGHeart symptomsWhat to expectUnderstanding resultsPre-op clearanceCost
Do urgent cares do EKGs?
Many do, and OneSpotMD does at both clinics. An EKG (electrocardiogram) records your heart’s electrical activity with small stickers on your chest, arms and legs. It’s quick, painless and doesn’t use radiation. EKG and ECG mean the same test.
Why people get an EKG
| Reason | Examples |
|---|---|
| Heart symptoms | A racing or pounding heart, skipped beats, fluttering, mild chest discomfort that comes and goes, or dizziness |
| Anxiety or panic attacks | Symptoms such as a racing heart, assessed alongside other possible causes; an EKG alone cannot diagnose anxiety |
| Before surgery | Pre-op clearance when your surgeon asks for an EKG |
| Checking a known condition | High blood pressure, diabetes, AFib or other heart rhythm problems |
| Medicine checks | Some medicines can affect heart rhythm, so your provider may want an EKG |
| Primary care | As part of care for our primary care patients |
| Forms | Job, school or program forms that ask for an EKG |
Heart symptoms: is it my heart?
Heart symptoms can have several causes, including urgent conditions. Do not assume symptoms are anxiety. An EKG, an exam and a look at your health history help the provider sort out what’s going on, whether it’s your heart, anxiety, a panic attack, acid reflux, a strained muscle or something else.
| Symptom | What we check for |
|---|---|
| Racing, pounding or fluttering heart | Rhythm problems such as extra beats, SVT or AFib; urgency depends on symptoms and findings |
| Skipped or extra beats | Premature beats, which are common and often harmless |
| Tight chest with worry or stress | Possible anxiety or panic symptoms, while considering cardiac and other causes; a normal EKG cannot rule out all serious causes |
| Mild chest discomfort that comes and goes | Heart, muscle, reflux or lung causes |
| Dizziness or feeling lightheaded | Heart rhythm, blood pressure, dehydration or medicine side effects |
If your EKG or exam shows something that needs more care, the provider talks it through with you and points you to the right next step, like a cardiologist or the ER.
Call 911 instead
- Chest pain or pressure that’s severe or lasts more than a few minutes
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back
- Chest pain with sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
- Fainting, or a heartbeat that’s very fast and won’t slow down
- Face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech
- Anything you think is life-threatening
Don’t drive yourself if you think you’re having a heart attack. Call 911.
What to expect during an EKG
How to prepare
- Wear a top that’s easy to take off or open
- Skip lotion or oil on your chest that day
- Bring a list of your medicines
- Bring any past EKG results or heart records you have
- For pre-op clearance, bring the form from your surgeon’s office
Understanding your EKG results
An EKG shows your heart rate, your heart rhythm and how electrical signals move through your heart. Your provider explains what your results mean for you.
| What it can show | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Normal rate and rhythm | Your heart’s electrical activity looks normal at the time of the test |
| An irregular rhythm | Atrial fibrillation (AFib), extra beats or another rhythm problem |
| A fast or slow heart rate | Tachycardia, such as SVT, or bradycardia |
| Signs of strain or damage | A past or current heart attack, or a heart working harder than normal |
| Changes from medicines or minerals | Effects of some medicines, or potassium or other levels being off |
An EKG is a snapshot of a few seconds. A normal EKG does not rule out a heart attack or every serious heart problem, and an abnormal result needs clinical interpretation. Persistent or concerning symptoms may require emergency assessment, repeat EKGs or other tests. Your provider may order lab tests, refer you to a cardiologist, or send you to the ER if needed.
Pre-op clearance
We offer pre-operative evaluations at both clinics. An EKG is performed when indicated by your health, planned procedure and surgical team requirements; it is not necessary for every patient. Completing an EKG does not by itself guarantee clearance for surgery. Bring the form from your surgeon’s office and a list of your medicines.
Why you shouldn’t wait
Seek prompt assessment for concerning symptoms. New or unexplained chest discomfort, even if intermittent or mild, can be serious; call 911 for possible heart attack symptoms rather than waiting for a clinic EKG.
| If you wait | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Ignoring a racing or fluttering heart | Rhythm problems like AFib can go unfound, and AFib raises the risk of stroke |
| Dizziness or feeling faint | Falls and injuries, and the cause stays unknown |
| Putting off a pre-op EKG | Your surgery date can be delayed |
How much does an EKG cost?
- Copay: you pay the copay amount set by your plan at the visit.
- Deductible or coinsurance: your share depends on your plan and services received. You may receive a bill after insurance processes the claim.
- NC Medicaid plans: copays for covered visits with most NC Medicaid plans are usually $0 or $4; confirm with your plan.
- EKG: coverage and cost-sharing depend on your plan and the reason for testing; confirm your benefits.
Self-pay prices
These are discounted prices for patients who don’t have insurance or choose not to use it. $140 for the visit plus $80 for the EKG ($220 total). Other tests are extra.
See all the plans we take on our insurance page.
Related services
Urgent care servicesAnnual physicalsLabs and blood workDOT physicalsInsurance we accept
Further reading: Understanding an electrocardiogram and heart attack warning signs.
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