On Demand: Innovating Cardiac Urgent Care With Cardiac Walk-In Clinics-Webinar Recording

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Video Summary

Capital Cardiology Associates in New York launched a cardiac urgent care, also known as a walk-in clinic, in 2014. The initiative aims to reduce community healthcare costs by offering urgent cardiac assessments outside the emergency room. Patients experiencing symptoms that might be cardiac-related but aren't emergencies can receive expedited care involving imaging and lab work, thus avoiding hospital admissions and unnecessary ER testing. Initially, the center was set up in a former medical records area, starting with six bays and using budget-friendly resources like telemetry equipment sourced from a closing rehab center on eBay.<br /><br />Staff at these clinics include cardiologists, advanced practitioners, and nurses trained to efficiently triage and manage walk-in patients with chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, etc. The model has expanded significantly, with multiple locations now handling thousands of visits annually. The centers prioritize non-invasive cardiology services, ensuring prompt patient assessment and follow-up while offering cost-effective care compared to emergency rooms. The practice has grown thanks to the tangible benefits noticed by patients, primary care physicians, and the larger healthcare community, despite initial challenges in staffing and gaining buy-in.

Keywords

Capital Cardiology Associates

cardiac urgent care

walk-in clinic

New York

healthcare costs

non-invasive cardiology

emergency room

telemetry equipment

patient assessment