Cardiovascular Health
Our Team
The Cardiovascular Health team at Stanford Hospital & Clinics includes the full range of clinicians necessary to ensure that patients get the best, most thorough care possible. Our team includes cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, thoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, echosonographers, advanced practice nurses, and a variety of other caregivers and support staff.Cardiologists
Cardiologists specialize in treating heart disease. They also manage acute problems such as heart attacks and arrhythmias, perform diagnostic procedures such as cardiac catheterization, and consult with other specialists and surgeons. The cardiologists at Stanford Hospital and Clinics are recognized worldwide for their work.
Cardiac Surgeons
Cardiac surgeons specialize in surgical techniques related to problems of the heart and blood vessels, including repair and replacement of faulty valves, coronary artery bypass grafts, heart transplantation, tumors of the heart, and so forth. The cardiac surgeons at Stanford are pioneering new techniques in minimally invasive heart surgery to improve outcomes and speed patients' recovery times. They are also developing new heart-assist pumps and novel ways to repair aneurysms of the aorta in the chest.
Cardiac Electrophysiologists
Cardiac electrophysiologists evaluate heart-rhythm disturbances and help determine appropriate treatment for them. They may practice in a variety of settings including emergency and operating rooms, intensive care units, and specialty clinics or laboratories.
Thoracic Surgeons
Thoracic surgeons oversee the preoperative, operative, and critical care of patients with pathologic conditions within the chest. These may include cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall; emphysema, infections, pnuemothorax; and other conditions.
Echosonographers
Echosonographers at Stanford perform a variety of diagnostic procedures including stress echo, 3-D echo, and Doppler sonography. The information provided by such assessments is vital for the diagnosis and treatment of many heart problems.
Nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) who have advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty area; most have also received national certification in that specialty. Our nurse practitioners have extensive training in caring for cardiac patients and are an extremely important resource. They work closely with attending physicians to assure coordination of care and help meet the unique needs of individual patients. They also provide useful information for patients and families and communicate with referring physicians.
Nurses
Clinic nurses are specially trained and experienced in caring for cardiac patients, and provide a wide range of services at each clinic. They also provide patient education essential to the treatment plan. In some clinics, highly qualified nursing personnel, in consultation with your doctor, provide advice by phone.
Dieticians
Dieticians help heart patients learn about and maintain a healthful, enjoyable, heart-healthy diet that may prevent or delay surgery, or help the heart stay healthy after surgery.
Clinic managers
The clinic manager is responsible for the overall operation of the clinic, and supervises the clinical and administrative staff.
Case managers
Case managers coordinate a wide range of services, including assistance with insurance companies, referrals, test scheduling, and home care.
Social workers
Social workers offer counseling to patients and families regarding financial concerns, local lodging, community resources, psychological and emotional support, or home-care problems. They also conduct a variety of patient support groups and classes in coping skills for patients and their families.
Medical assistants
Medical assistants help physicians by measuring patients' weight, blood pressure, and temperature; and maintaining daily patient records.
Administrative personnel
All of our personnel are particularly concerned about cardiac patients. They will help with scheduling appointments and tests, completing insurance forms, and obtaining authorization records. If they can't answer your questions, they'll direct you to the appropriate person.