Cardiac Surgery Patient Appointment Scheduling Protocol

Initial Contact

Required Patient Information

• Full legal name and date of birth
• Insurance information and policy numbers
• Primary care physician contact details
• Referring cardiologist information
• Current medication list
• Recent cardiac studies (within 6 months)

Priority Classification

Emergency (Same Day/24 Hours)

• Acute aortic dissection
• Unstable angina with left main disease
• Mechanical valve failure

Urgent (1-2 Weeks)

• Severe symptomatic coronary artery disease
• Progressive heart failure requiring surgical intervention
• Severe valve disease with symptoms

Elective (2-6 Weeks)

• Stable coronary artery disease
• Asymptomatic valve disease
• Routine follow-up appointments

Pre-appointment Requirements

Documentation Checklist

1. Recent cardiac catheterization report (≤ 6 months)
2. Echocardiogram results
3. Recent blood work (≤ 30 days)
4. Chest X-ray (≤ 30 days)
5. Clearance letters from specialists if applicable

Scheduling Guidelines

Time Allocation

• New patient consultation: 60 minutes
• Pre-operative evaluation: 45 minutes
• Post-operative follow-up: 30 minutes
• Wound check: 15 minutes

Schedule Blocks

• Complex cases: Morning slots (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
• Routine follow-ups: Afternoon slots (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
• Emergency slots: Keep 2 slots open daily

Patient Instructions

Pre-appointment Preparation

1. Arrive 30 minutes before scheduled time
2. Bring all current medications
3. Fast for 8 hours if testing scheduled
4. Bring all relevant medical records
5. Arrange for transportation if needed