Initial Consultation

Your first visit with us will begin with a cardiovascular consultation from one of our cardiologists, unless you have been referred to our office for testing purposes only. You can expect to spend 30-60 minutes at this first appointment, depending on the nature of the appointment. Patients who are scheduled for testing only may be required to have shorter or longer appointment times and may not even consult with a cardiologist during the visit.

One of our cardiologists will obtain a detailed medical history and perform a thorough examination of your cardiovascular system. You will be asked questions about the health history of your relatives. The cardiologist will provide you with information about potential risk factors and disease processes that can lead to heart problems such as elevated cholesterol and other blood fats (high lipids, hypercholesterolemia), hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and smoking.

The cardiologist will want to have an exact list of medications you are currently taking, including the dose and frequency. We will also need to know any medication allergies or intolerances that you may have. You can bring a list of these medications, or the medication containers, with you to your appointment.

If you have information from other doctors, especially test results, please be sure to have those records sent to us in advance of your appointment so our physician can review them.

At the conclusion of this visit, your cardiologist will have a beginning impression about the nature of your problem. Further tests may be needed to define your diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

Please provide as much information about your health history as possible to your cardiologist at this visit. It helps the physician in determining your disease status and can prevent duplicate testing or services that you may not require.