Referring patients to Iowa Heart Center

Thank you for selecting Iowa Heart to provide cardiac care for your patients.

What to bring

Patients should bring the following to their appointment:

·        any medical records or reports, including previous ekgs, lab reports, hospital records, etc.

·        all prescribed medications (this should be done for each visit)

·        patients scheduled for treadmill testing should bring or wear comfortable walking shoes

·        if the patient’s insurance company requires a signed form from your office, they will need to bring it to their appointment

What to expect

On the first visit, we’ll ask patients to tell us about their personal medical history. We’ll conduct a comprehensive physical examination, and administer any diagnostic testing necessary to provide the best possible care. Each of our offices is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to provide a complete evaluation of the heart.

At the end of the evaluation, the physician will give the patient their impressions and answer any questions they may have. If test results are not immediately available, patients will be contacted by phone or mail. We will also work closely with you and forward a complete record of the visit with our recommendations.

If patients require hospitalization for further testing or treatment, Iowa Heart Center cardiologists will continue to supervise their care. More than one of our physicians may provide care during the hospital stay, but the individualized approach to our care will be similar regardless of which physician they see.

Office hours / appointments / emergencies

Our regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patients are seen by appointment only. Please request appointments as far in advance as possible. If the patient has to cancel their appointment, they should let us know as soon as possible.

If the patient is experiencing a problem that you feel cannot wait until their next appointment (chest pain, for example), they may be directed to a hospital emergency room. Iowa Heart cardiologists and surgeons are always available for emergencies.

If you need to contact an Iowa Heart physician before or after office hours, or on weekends, call the office where your patients are normally seen. Give your name and number to the answering service, and your request will be relayed to the physician.

Insurance and patient accounts

Iowa Heart Center’s billing staff will file an insurance claim with a carrier of the patient’s choice. Patients will receive notification of any charges that the insurance carrier will not pay. Although an insurance claim has been filed, patients will continue to receive statements each month as long as there is a balance on their account.

Iowa Heart Center participates in most local HMOs. We will request the appropriate co-payment at the time of service.