Our Cardiology Office Practice Model of Care

The physicians and staff of Cardiology Associates strive to provide quality care and service to their patients both in the hospital and through the continuum of care in the office setting. We realized that when patients are in the hospital they identify with a care team of nurses, assistants and technicians for their care while during their hospitalization. This has been proven to be a successful model to provide the care that addresses the healthcare needs, watching over them throughout their stay, getting them well and safe to return home to their families.

The physicians of Cardiology Associates thought to bring this model of care to their office practice so patients could experience a safe and caring environment that would best support their heart health. They realized that to achieve this goal it would take a great deal of teamwork and commitment.

This would mean that each physician would have their own assistant and or nurse allowing the physicians and assistants to develop their own work team that would enhance patient communication, as well as the assistant becoming a resource for that physicians patients. Their responsibilities would include follow-up, such as; refilling prescriptions, patient questions, test results, procedure instructions, relating patient information to referring physician, and communicating with patient’s physician when necessary.

As this model of care in our office continued to develop and fall into place, it was soon realized that there were many valuable aspects to this model. Office hours ran more smoothly, patients waiting less, physicians had all necessary follow up information when patient arrived, patients felt a sense of security/better connected, (knowing their “care team” very well), increased teamwork and increased job satisfaction, all of which directly relate to quality care for our patients.

During times of the day when the assistants physician is out of the office, rounding at hospitals or performing cardiac procedures, the assistants prep charts, call patients for follow-up, schedule procedures for their physician and keep in touch with their physician on patient and office matters.

After implementing this plan of care, training and evaluating this change in workflow, two float assistants were added to anticipate vacation coverage and days when patient flow may require added assistance to expedite the office schedule and for general assistance to other care team members.

After instituting this model of care we measured patients satisfaction. Our tool focused on the quality care and service evaluation by patients after a visit with their physician. The results were astounding to us – 86% of the time the patients rated their care given by their physician as Excellent, and the remaining 14% evaluated their care as Very Good.

We continue to be very proud of our “Patient Focused Care” model and it’s success. Outcomes like these can never be realized without dedication and teamwork, always focusing on why we are all here – to provide quality care for our Patients!