"I kept hearing different things from different physicians." Back to how medicine has changed, years ago a cardiologist was a cardiologist was a cardiologist. Today, there are

• General Clinical Cardiologists
• Cardiothoracic Surgeon
• Echocardiologists
• Electrophysiologist Interventional Cardiologists
• Adult Congenital Cardiologists
• Nuclear Cardiologists
• Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologists
• Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cardiologists
• Preventive Cardiologists

Just to name a few. And each of these has a different scope. If your cholesterol is high and your have a strong family history of heart disease, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon may want to do a catheter in the OR, while a nuclear cardiologist may want to do a less invasive (risky) scan. In today's healthcare delivery system, there is no one overseeing the team, informing the patient of all options, and helping them navigate the jungle of todays medicine.

"The follow-up plan wasn't coordinated." Typically when doctors refer they either give you three or four names and have you call, or just make the appointment for you. But who are you seeing? Who is navigating your healthcare? Referrals become especially difficult with the complexities of insurance. In-network referrals. Out of network referrals. They take my insurance, but not my plan. Typically when doctors refer they either give you three or four names and have you call, or just make the appointment for you. But who are you seeing? Are you being referred to the best in their field, or just someone who has an opening next week? How can you possibly know? And how long will it take me to get the referral, be seen, and have my issue completely addressed?

For example what happens when your primary care physician feels you need to see a cardiologist. When they finally figure out who you will be referred to, it often takes 4 weeks for the first appointment. During that appointment, the cardiologist orders a bunch of tests and labs. And the tests take some 2 to 4 weeks. When the tests are done and you go back to see the cardiologist, it can be 2 month or longer since your primary care provider made the recommendation. TWO MONTHS?? For your heart?? That's scary.

If you want to see what Executive Level Care is, make an appointment with Dr. Richard Thwaites at Metroplex Wellness.