What to look for in a cardiologist
By ShareMD Connect
Aortic stenosis is a serious disease that requires proper care from a cardiologist. If left untreated, severe symptomatic aortic stenosis has a mortality rate of 50% after one year.
But many people don’t get the lifesaving treatment they need because it can be difficult to find the right cardiologist.
The first step to finding the right provider for you is understanding what to look for in a cardiologist. Here are four things to consider when looking for your perfect match.
1. Education
Aortic stenosis is a condition that is best managed by a specialist. Becoming a cardiologist takes about ten years of additional education after graduation from medical school. But not every cardiologist follows the same training path. When looking for a provider, be sure to check their background.
You'll want to make sure that your physician has completed the following:
Core medical training
This means that your physician has graduated from an accredited medical school program.
Residency
A residency is required for physicians to become board certified and indicates that your doctor has practical, hands-on training.
A cardiac fellowship
Fellowships are additional years of training that a physician undertakes so that they can become experts in their specialty field. There are different types of cardiology fellowships, which you can research to learn more about.
Board certification
According to the American Board of Internal Medicine, “passing your board [certification] demonstrates that you have met rigorous standards and have the clinical judgment, skills, and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care.” You absolutely want to ensure that your physician is board certified before proceeding with any treatment.
Ongoing training
Many cardiologists participate in ongoing training programs to learn about the latest advancements in heart health. You want a physician that’s up-to-date on research so that they can recommend the most effective treatment for you. Another great sign is that your physician has participated in clinical trials. Even better - they’re published in those trials, learning textbooks, or others. You can search through PubMed to find out if your cardiologist’s work has been published.
2. Experience
Your physician may meet all of the education requirements above, but they also need to have experience treating people with your condition.
If you’re considering a surgical treatment path, experience is even more important. SAVR procedures have been around for a long time, and your physician is likely experienced in open heart surgery. TAVR, however, is relatively new, and not every doctor is qualified to perform the procedure.
The American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons maintains an active database of healthcare systems registered to perform TAVR procedures, which is a great starting point for finding a qualified provider.
Regardless of your chosen treatment path, it’s perfectly normal to ask your doctor about their experience. It may feel awkward at first, but you should ask how many patients they’ve treated with your disease, how many cardiology patients they treat per year, how long they’ve been practicing cardiology, and how many surgeries they perform each year.
3. Access to multidisciplinary care
An often overlooked but critical component of a successful treatment plan for aortic stenosis is access to a multidisciplinary care team.
A typical multidisciplinary cardiac care team may consist of an interventional cardiologist, a heart valve surgeon, a cardiac imaging specialist, a cardiac anesthesiologist, cardiac nurses, a dietician, and any specialists necessary to manage co-occurring conditions like diabetes.
The biggest benefit of this approach is information sharing and access to a wider set of skills. Bringing together more than one specialist makes it easier to understand your options and make an informed decision.
Look for physicians who practice in a heart valve center near you. In these centers, you’ll often be part of a program designed to complete all of your testing and visits in 1-2 days to help make it more convenient. You may have to travel farther than you normally would, but having access to a center dedicated to heart valve disease is an invaluable asset.
4. Fit and comfort
At the end of the day, it’s important that you feel confident in your physician. You want a doctor who listens, understands your goals and concerns, explains what’s going on, and treats you as an equal during this shared decision-making process.
If you ever feel like you’re being rushed, pressured into a decision that doesn’t match your goals, or just uncomfortable with your provider, then it’s time to find a second opinion.
If you have a hard time finding the right cardiologist - or if you just need to talk about what to look for with a trusted expert - ShareMD is just a phone call away.
ShareMD is built on nurses who are here to connect you with the care you need. Our team has decades of experience working in cardiology and understands the importance of finding the right provider.
Connecting with us is as simple as having a conversation. During a free phone call, you can confidentially explain your situation and get help finding a solution. Our nurses will listen to your needs and work with you to find providers that could be a good fit. And, if you decide to, they can even help you set up an appointment.
There’s no catch, no obligation, and it’s free of charge. Our mission is to improve the quality of healthcare for everyone by enabling faster service and personalized support through human-centric care for everyone, not just the most privileged.