file photoThe Cardiovascular Institute of the South office in Meridian has received approval from the state to expand its cardiac services.

In preparation for their move from downtown Meridian to North Hills Street, the Cardiovascular Institute of the South has received the necessary approval from the state to expand their cardiac services.

The Mississippi State Department of Health gave the office authority Monday for the establishment of cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET) services and allowed them to get the necessary equipment.

The original order was amended to reflect the site move. The capital expenditure remains at $12,750.

The new location will also allow CIS-Meridian to introduce cardiac PET exams in addition to the nuclear studies currently offered. The cardiac PET exam measures the blood flow of the coronary arteries to the heart.

“(Cardiac PET) allows us to see patients with a higher BMI and doesn’t require a treadmill,” said Ross Brown, the clinical manager of CIS-Meridian. “The patients get a better study and the physicians get a better, higher quality image.”

Additionally, Brown said the new site would allow CIS-Meridian to create the radioactive dosage required for the test on-site, instead of having to order it from Jackson. Previously, patients would have to come at a later time to complete their test because of the delay in the delivery of the dosage from Jackson.