Published: November 3, 2026
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is helping patients get answers about potential heart disease sooner with Kentucky’s first photon-counting CT scanner and expanded access to coronary CT angiography across its network.
For patients concerned about their heart health, getting answers quickly can make a meaningful difference. This new scanner can help detect narrowing or blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart before they lead to serious problems such as a heart attack. It also can help doctors determine whether symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath may be related to heart disease. Previously, most patients would have needed a more invasive procedure in a cardiac catheterization lab.
“Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is committed to providing patients with access to advanced cardiovascular diagnostics,” said Tara Mudd, APRN, system vice president, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “This technology gives more patients access to a noninvasive diagnostic option that previously may not have been available to them. By combining advanced imaging with expanded access for referring providers, we’re helping patients get answers faster and making it easier to connect them with the specialized heart care they need.”
The new scanner can provide clearer images for some patients who have significant calcium buildup in their arteries, coronary stents or higher body weight. The technology gives physicians a more detailed view of the heart and blood vessels while reducing image distortion caused by normal movement during the scan.
The new scanner will be available to patients starting Nov. 3, 2026, at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute – Springs, The Springs Medical Center, Suite 75, 6420 Dutchmans Parkway, in Louisville, Kentucky.
A new referral order process also means a primary care provider can order a coronary CT angiography, and patients will no longer need to see a cardiologist beforehand. A physician referral is required for the test, but a follow-up appointment with a cardiologist can be scheduled if necessary. Coronary CT angiography is a noninvasive heart scan that allows physicians to look for plaque buildup and blocked arteries, common causes of heart disease and heart attacks.
The new photon-counting CT scanner is advanced imaging technology that can provide clearer, more detailed images, helping physicians evaluate suspected heart disease with greater precision. Together, these advancements can help identify heart problems earlier and connect patients to treatment sooner.
Scanners are located at Norton Hospital, Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Norton Clark Hospital and the Springs location.
“Expanding access to coronary CT angiography gives primary care providers another tool to evaluate patients with potential cardiac symptoms,” Mudd said. “Our goal is to help identify heart disease sooner and connect patients with the right care at the right time.”