The physicians of Southern Heart Specialists thank you for choosing us for your cardiovascular care.  We know that coming to a cardiologists office for the first time can be associated with anxiety and uncertainty.  We also know that your time is important to you and that you would welcome opportunities to limit repeat visits where possible.  With these ideas in mind, this section of our web site is directed to new patients to our offices so that the first meeting may be as efficient, productive and reassuring as possible

 Before your appointment:

 Go to MY PATIENT PAGE, (button located on our Home Page) and create your new secure sign-in instructions.

• Fill out and send Authorization for Release of Medical Records form.
• Fill out and send Southern Heart Specialists Registration form.
• Fill out completely and send New Patient Medical Questionnaire form.
• Please notify the office as soon as possible if you need to cancel or re-schedule an appointment.

What to bring:

• Insurance card and photo ID.
• Physicians Referral, if needed.
• Old Medical Records, in your possession.
• Recent Lab Results, in your possession.
• All Medications and Supplements, in their original containers.
• Any home blood pressure and weight charts.

Always bring your insurance card to each office visit, even if you have sent the Patient Registration form with the same information, it is a good practice to develop and bring this very important piece of information with you at each encounter.  You should physically bring with you all medications and supplements for our review.  We prefer you bring them in their original containers.  If this is impossible, a medication and supplement list is the next best thing.  The medication list should reflect the exact name, dosage, and prescriptive instructions written on the containers.  The reason why the medicine containers themselves are preferred to lists is because these lists are frequently inaccurate or incomplete, failing to reflect medicine changes made by other physicians, or generic substitutions by well meaning pharmacists.

What to expect:

The first visit is always the one associated with the most anxiety and uncertainty.  Upon your arrival, you will first want to check in with the receptionist.  Next you will be brought back by one of our Medical Assistants to an exam room where you will be weighed and vital signs assessed , (heart rate and blood pressure).  The nurse may then ask some clarifying questions about the New Patient Medical Questionnaire.  If you are only having testing done, it would probably be one of the test technicians who would accompany you to the Echo or Stress Lab from the waiting room. (see Pre-Test Instructions).  For consultations, an EKG would be done next at this point, and after a brief period of time your meeting with the physician would take place.  This would involve a review of your medical history, any medical records and lab results that have been collected and a physical exam.  Further testing may be ordered at this time as a part of the visit, or for another day.  You wll have the opportunity, at this point, to pose any questions that you may have concerning your evaluation and management.

Hopefully instructions above have gone a long way relieving any stress and uncertainty you may have with your first visit to one of our offices.  If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call our office.