Simple steps to Find the Best Cardiologist

If you are searching for a good cardiology specialist it is most likely that you’ve been referred by your family doctor or a general practitioner who has felt the need for a specialist to take a better look at a problem that has been troubling you and related to your heart.

A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases and medical conditions affecting the heart and its blood vessels and treats these conditions usually with medications, and advice related to lifestyle modifications, while a few specialists from some subspecialties perform minimally invasive catheter-based procedures for the treatment of specific heart problems such as blocked coronary blood vessels, or closed valves, etc. Cardiologists may work alongside surgeons from CT surgery as well as other surgical specialties when operative procedures are done on individuals with heart disease.

Having received a referral and as you are processing this new information and development, it is natural to be worried or anxious. Choosing the right specialist at this point is essential for the proper investigation and management of the problem and some things one should consider before fixing up an appointment would include

Asking for a Referral

The first step would be to ask for a referral from the family physician or general practitioner who has felt the need for specialist care; Referrals can also be taken from family or friends, or other physicians that are known to you. Referrals coming from your family physician or family, and friends can help to provide you with the initial vote of confidence.

Look up the Doctor’s Credentials, Qualifications, and Reviews

Once you have identified a couple of cardiologists, it helps to look them up online and verify their credentials and qualifications. There are a number of websites that offer information about local doctors, websites like www.skedoc.com go the extra mile, and give you complete information about a doctor’s qualifications, specialty experience, work timings, etc.  

Your general physician has likely suggested that the problem could be related to a particular section of your digestive tract or a possible preliminary assumption, therefore it is advisable to confirm that the cardiologist you are going to consult has relevant training and certification related to that. Is the cardiology specialist you are going to consult a surgeon or a physician, do they have any additional training and certifications, are they associated with a reputed hospital or clinic, etc., are some of the things you should be looking for.

It is important to bear in mind there are a number of subspecialties in cardiology such as Critical Care Cardiology that deals with emergency medical situations related to the heart, Congenital Heart Disease Specialty that deals with heart defects that are present at birth, Cardiac Oncology that deals with cancers of the heart, Electrophysiology that deals with heart rhythm and electrical activity problems of the heart, Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology that deals with management of advanced heart failure and pre and postoperative care after a heart transplant surgery, Interventional Cardiology that deals with management of heart disease through minimally invasive catheter based procedures, Nuclear Cardiology that deals with diagnosis of heart disease through the use of radioactive materials, Pediatric Cardiology that deals with heart problems and diseases in infants and children, General Clinical Cardiology that deals with early diagnosis and management of problems affecting the heart and its blood vessels.

Reviews

While you are researching your options online, you can also lookup reviews and recommendations from patients and colleagues, which will help you to know at least a little more in detail about the specialist you’ll be meeting, and how they have handled their patients before you. There may always be a few disgruntled patients, so look for a majority opinion.  

Ease, Trust, and Comfort

When you meet a specialist, it is very important to be able to place your complete trust in the doctor’s capabilities. You should also be able to comfortably share all your concerns, medical troubles, and fears with them without any hesitation to feel at ease and have a sense of comfort knowing that you are in safe hands, and will be treated by someone who cares for your wellbeing.

Experience and Track Record

While every medical problem is unique and individual, you can still candidly and respectfully inquire with your doctor if the medical problem you are experiencing is something that is common if they have treated something like this before, and what were the outcomes for some cases that were previously dealt by them. Most doctors would be happy to share this information with you and it will also help you to understand and deal with your problem better knowing that there were others who have been able to face a similar situation.

Consider the costs

In medical practice, there may be a difference in the costs of services provided by doctors within the same specialty which might be owing to their experience, caseload, the hospital or multispecialty clinic they are associated with, etc. While consultation fees may more or less be the same, do take into consideration the costs associated with a particular procedure that may be required as a part of the treatment for your problem. If the costs are not sufficiently covered by your insurance, it may be advisable to discuss or look for other options, or even discuss other management options with the attending cardiologist.