Cardiology Practice Appointment Scheduling Guidelines

Priority Categories

Urgent (24-48 hours)

• Acute chest pain with normal ECG
• New-onset atrial fibrillation
• Symptomatic arrhythmias
• Post-hospital follow-up within 7 days

Semi-Urgent (1-2 weeks)

• New patient with stable angina
• Heart failure - newly diagnosed
• Abnormal stress test results
• Syncope evaluation

Routine (2-4 weeks)

• Annual follow-up visits
• Preventive cardiology consultations
• Stable CAD monitoring
• Routine device checks

Appointment Duration Guidelines

New Patients

• Initial consultation: 45-60 minutes
• New patient with complex conditions: 60-75 minutes

Follow-up Visits

• Routine follow-up: 15-20 minutes
• Complex follow-up: 30 minutes
• Device check: 20 minutes

Scheduling Protocols

Required Patient Information

1. Demographics
2. Insurance details
3. Referring physician information
4. Chief complaint/reason for visit
5. Relevant medical records

Pre-appointment Instructions

• Medication list requirement
• Recent test results
• NPO requirements if applicable
• Insurance authorization status

Special Considerations

Testing Appointments

• Echo: 45 minutes
• Stress test: 90 minutes
• Holter monitor fitting: 30 minutes
• Nuclear studies: 3-4 hours

Emergency Slots

• Maintain 2 daily emergency slots
• Reserve for genuine cardiac urgencies
• Clear protocol for utilizing emergency slots

Scheduling Staff Guidelines

Documentation Requirements

• Verify insurance pre-authorization
• Confirm medical record receipt
• Document chief complaint
• Note special accommodations needed

Communication Protocols

• Appointment confirmation process
• Rescheduling policies
• Cancellation requirements
• Wait list management