For Doctors

For Patients

Peninsula Echo is an independent specialist echocardiography clinic providing expert level studies and reports to the Redcliffe and Peninsula region.

The clinic is situated in Suite 23, Peninsula Specialist Centre, Cnr George and Florence Sts Kippa-Ring. Signage is at the suite entrance.

The clinic is staffed by Mr Christopher Thomas and Dr Jonathan Hunter. Dr Hunter has trained extensively in echocardiography reporting. Mr Thomas leads Queensland with unmatched, extensive scanning and interpretation experience in a tertiary level institution.

Peninsula Echo claims to give the most accurate echocardiographic studies and reports in the region, through a combination of lengthy experience, high level equipment, and a dedication to the cardiovascular health of the population of the Peninsula.

Peninsula Echo welcomes referrals from general practitioners as well as public and private specialty medical teams.

At this time, all eligible studies are bulk billed.

Services

Specialists in Transthoracic Echocardiography

Peninsula Echo specialises in Transthoracic Echocardiography, or an ultrasound examination of the heart. The service is available to outpatients from any referrer and inpatients of the Peninsula Private Hospital. At this time, all outpatient studies are bulk billed.

For the most accurate Transthoracic Echocardiography Report in the Redcliffe/Peninsula region, always refer to Peninsula Echo.

Patient Information

Echocardiography is the term given to the ultrasound examination of your heart. It is a test in which high frequency sound waves are used to create a moving picture of your heart and blood flow.

No particular preparation is required for the test. You will be asked to change into a gown, so the sonographer may take ultrasound images of your heart through your chest wall. The examination will take up to 45 minutes.

You will not be exposed to any radiation during the examination.

What is an echocardiogram?

Echocardiography is a safe and painless diagnostic procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound-principle similar to sonar or radar) to take moving pictures of the heart. The sound waves are directed towards the heart from a small hand-held device (a transducer) that sends and receives these signals. Objects, such as the heart walls and valves, reflect part of the sound waves back to the transducer where they are used to produce pictures of the heart on a television-like screen. In this way it is possible to measure the size of each of the four chambers of the heart, to study the appearance and motion of the heart valves and to conclude how efficiently the heart muscle contracts.

Measurements taken from these pictures are helpful in determining how well your heart is working, and also helps to determine whether or not there are any abnormalities present. These sound waves are also used to judge the speed, amount and direction of the blood flowing through parts of your heart and great vessels (Doppler Echocardiography). This test can be used to determine if there are any congenital heart defects, valve abnormalities or abnormalities of the pumping chambers.

What Special Preparations are Required Before Undergoing Echocardiography?

You may eat and go about your normal activities unless otherwise informed. In general, the test is painless, and you will feel no discomfort. Wear a two piece out-fit as you will need to undress to the waist. This test does not require you to stop taking your regular medication, unless advised by your doctor.

The echocardiographic examination is performed and recorded by a highly trained Echocardiographer. It may take up to an hour, depending upon how easily the necessary information is obtained. The transducer must be placed directly on the chest wall or upper abdomen for the examination. You will be offered a gown or a sheet to keep warm and to minimize the area on the chest that must be exposed at any one time while the test is being performed.

During the test an electrocardiogram is recorded with small adhesive patches and harmless wires. The electrocardiogram is useful for the timing of events in the heart. On occasions more than one transducer is applied to the chest and also heart sounds or pulses may be recorded along with the echocardiogram. On occasions, the Doppler Echocardiography when activated may be noisy.

Ultrasound cannot be felt and does not hurt. There are no known harmful or proven adverse effects from cardiac ultrasound. If one is pregnant during the time an echocardiogram is performed there is no known danger to either mother or baby from this procedure. To improve the quality of the picture, a harmless, odourless and water-soluble “gel” is applied to the skin where the transducer will be placed. This may feel cool and a bit moist, but the “gel” can be wiped off at the completion of this examination. During the procedure it is normal to feel a slight pressure and/or vibration from the transducer, which is not painful.

During the examination the room lights may be dimmed to reduce any glare and better see the “TV’ screen. Patients are usually asked to lie on a hospital bed or examination table. Changes in position of the body are sometimes necessary in order to get better pictures, and patients are frequently asked to change position from lying flat to lying on the left side. Ultrasound waves travel poorly through bone or lungs; therefore, breath holding can be used to keep the air-filled lungs out of the way of the ultrasound beam and allow the heart to move closer to the transducer.

Although the Echocardiographer performing this test may explain what is being seen on the television-like screen as the examination is in progress, it is essential to obtain precise measurements. If you have had previous echocardiograms, the new ones will be compared with these and a Doctor will analyse any differences. These results will be sent to your referring Doctor. You will be asked to return to see this Doctor at which time this doctor will review with you the results and final diagnosis.

Meet our team

Dr Jonathan Hunter MBBS, GCertCU(melb), FRACP

Dr Jonathan Michael Hunter graduated in medicine from Kings College Medical School London in 2001. He initially worked for 6yrs in the NHS obtaining MRCP qualifications. He emigrated to Australia, and has resided on the Redcliffe Peninsula with his young family since 2006. He is locally trained, working at Redcliffe (RDH) Caboolture (CBH), Royal Brisbane Hospital (RBWH) and the Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH).

Dr Hunter completed his post fellowship training in Echocardiography at the renowned Prince Charles Echocardiography unit. Granted FRACP in 2014, Dr Hunter obtained a full time consultant post in Internal Medicine at Redcliffe hospital publicly, with a special interest in Echocardiography. Dr Hunter also works privately holding full accreditation at Peninsula Private hospital, Holy Spirit Northside (HSNS) and North West Private hospital (NWPH).

In addition to publishing numerous cardiology research abstracts at conference, Dr Hunter has contributed 12 peer reviewed publications and maintains active participation in echocardiography research. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland.

Mr Christopher Thomas BScApp. MScSt. AMS. DMU

Mr Christopher Thomas graduated from The University of Queensland in 1997 with a Bachelor Applied Science in Human Movement Studies. He went on to completing a Master of Scientific Studies specialising in cardiac physiology and rehabilitation.

Mr Thomas started working at the specialist cardio-thoracic tertiary referral centre, The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside, Australia, as a Cardiac Scientist (1999). He was very quickly selected to train in cardiac ultrasound and a Diploma of Medical Ultrasound was completed in his early years. Mr Thomas made a (near) 18-year contribution to the Echocardiography Department, where he has been considered an educational resource for the hospital’s staff, and has vast experience in emergency and critical care scenarios. Mr Thomas has trained many Specialist Echo-Cardiologists working in Australia and abroad. 2006 through 2016 saw Mr Thomas operate as the hospital’s most experienced cardiac sonographer.

Mr Thomas specialises in the accurate echocardiographic assessment of ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, valvular lesions, paediatric and congenital heart disease, and assessing cardiac function post-cardiac surgery.

Mr Thomas was the first sonographer in Australia to conduct private clinics as a contractor (2002), and currently is in wide demand over 3 states to provide expert level echocardiography services to a discerning cardiology customer base.

Mr Thomas is fully accredited with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. He is also a member of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

In addition to presenting his original research at the World Congress of Cardiology in 2002, Mr Thomas has been involved in countless research initiatives as new technologies arrived on to the market, such as ASD/VSD closure devices, Ventricular assist devices and trans-catheter heart valve replacements.

Mr Thomas’ experience is unmatched in QLD with over 22 years of full time echocardiography experience in quaternary level institutions. He is committed to providing expert level echocardiography and image interpretation to the Peninsula region.

Contact us

For all urgent requests and reports please fill in this form

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Subject*

  • Suite 23, Peninsula Specialist Medical Centre

  • 97 George St
    Kippa-Ring QLD 4021

  • Google directions

  • 1300 840 125

  • 07 3319 6613

  • info@peninsulaecho.com.au

  • This is a highly specialised imaging service with variable clinic times.

  • Our phone service is now
    8:30am-6pm Monday to Friday.
    Messagebank is available 24/7.
    Messages get checked regularly.

  • If for any reason the phones are unavailable, leave a detailed message with a return phone number, or please fill in the form on the left and a staff member will get back to you very shortly.

  • For urgent enquiries, please fill in the contact form to the left. Thank you.

  • In an emergency Dial 000

At this time, all studies are bulk billed.