What To Consider When Choosing The Right Private Cardiologist

If you’ve decided to consult with a private cardiologist for advice, treatment or an examination of an issue related to your heart, it’s important to choose the right cardiologist for you. Here are some things to consider.

Specialism

While cardiologists are trained in all aspects related to the heart, it’s worth noting that some cardiologists are specialists in a particular area. Therefore, according to the British Heart Foundation, your choice of cardiologist should be influenced by the type of heart condition or problem you’re experiencing and the area that cardiologist specialises in.

For instance, some cardiologists might specialise in areas such as swollen feet caused by heart failure, heart rhythm disorders or genetic heart conditions.

Location

If you’ll need to see a cardiologist regularly, such as for a heart check-up or heart ultrasound, it makes sense to choose one that is local to your area, so that you’re not wasting hours on travel. Of course, you might need to weigh this up against other factors, for example, it might be more important to see a specialist that’s further away rather than a non-specialist that’s closer to home.

Experience matters

Before deciding which private cardiologist to use, find out what level of experience they have. As well as understanding what medical credentials they’ve obtained, ask about their level of experience in a particular area, or how many times they have performed a relevant procedure. 

One study found that complications were higher for those heart doctors fitting cardiac defibrillators who had implanted fewer than 10 devices compared to those who had fitted over 29. Therefore, experience certainly matters when making your decision.

As well as being experienced in their field, a good cardiologist should be keen to continue learning about their area of expertise, maybe even being involved in research or training, as well as making use of the latest, high-tech equipment.

Good communication

Whether you’re suffering from persistent heart palpitations and require a private ECG or you’re having to undergo heart checks because a close relative has passed away from a genetic heart condition, it can be nerve-racking visiting a cardiologist. Therefore, finding a heart doctor that can put your mind at ease and can explain information clearly in a way that makes it easy for you to understand is crucial.

When you first make contact with a potential cardiologist, don’t be afraid to ask them any questions you might have. From this initial conversation, you should be able to get a good idea of how well they communicate with you, without using jargon that is difficult to understand.

You’ll find we tick all the right boxes for finding the right private cardiologist for you. Get in touch with Dr Georgios Karagiannis today.