All appointments are scheduled through the central office. To schedule an appointment, please call us during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at:

• (361)888-8271
• (800)451-4738 - Toll Free

Every effort will be made to keep your appointment as scheduled. Office visits may need to be rescheduled if your physician is involved in a medical emergency. You will be notified in advance by our office, whenever possible, if appointment changes are necessary. If you need to reschedule your appointment time, please notify the main office as soon as possible.

Your appointment will begin by visiting with a member of our nursing staff prior to being seen by your cardiologist. This will include a history and physical examination emphasizing the cardiovascular system, which is your heart and blood vessels. The first appointment will also include an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure your heart's electrical activity. You may also need a chest x-ray. All of these procedures will assist your cardiologist in determining your heart's overall health. Any additional diagnostic tests that may be necessary will be thoroughly discussed with you.

Appointments will be scheduled as needed to evaluate your progress, health management, and to monitor any new cardiac conditions. For medical concerns unrelated to your cardiovascular system, please contact your primary care physician.

Feel free to contact our extensively trained cardiology nurses if you have any cardiac related concerns. Our nursing staff assist the physicians with patient care and interviews, patient education, telephone calls, and hospital rounds.

All calls are directed to our main office switchboard. During regular office hours, your telephone call will be returned by our staff as soon as possible. When you call, please provide specific information to our telephone operator so we can respond effectively.

Prescriptions are based on your current medical conditions and treatments. When you call our main office regarding a prescription, please provide the name of your medication, the dosage, and the telephone number of your pharmacy. Since our staff will need to review your medication records, please make your refill requests two to three days in advance during regular office hours. Please contact your primary care physician for non-cardiac prescription refills.

Your medical chart at Cardiology Associates contains confidential and comprehensive information that is used by your cardiologist during each visit. These records include laboratory and operative results, hospital summaries, physician-to-physician correspondence, notes from previous appointments, and other relevant information. You may request a copy or transfer of your medical records during regular office hours by signing a release form. Records will be mailed within one to two weeks.

Every second counts in a medical emergency involving your heart. Day or night, we are here if you need us. In the event of an emergency, please call us immediately at

• (361)888-8271
• (800)451-4738 - Toll Free

After regular office hours, our exchange answers emergency calls from our main telephone number and then notifies Cardiology Associates' physicians.

As a personal comfort to you, a Cardiology Associates' physician is accessible seven days a week at any of the primary Corpus Christi hospitals. Consequently, to ensure fast and efficient care, you may be seen first by any one of our physicians who is assigned at that hospital. Your cardiologist will be notified as soon as possible.

Most patients are referred to Cardiology Associates by other physicians. If your insurance company requires a physician referral letter to file your insurance claim, you will need to bring this letter from the referring physician to each appointment with us. As part of your continuity of care, your primary care physician will be consulted and kept informed of your progress.

As a convenience to you, we handle our own billing. If you have a question about your bill, please call the main office during regular office hours and ask for the billing department. Monthly statements are mailed out to all patients who have account balances. You may request a computer print out of your account at no charge.

Cardiology Associates is a provider for most insurance companies. Your insurance claim will be filed for you by our billing department. You are responsible, however, for payment of copays, deductibles, co-insurance, and any services not covered by your insurance. All copays will be collected at the time of check-in. We also request that you follow-up with your insurance company on any unpaid services.

To ensure proper billing, it is important that your patient registration form is current. If you experience any changes in your insurance, primary care physician, home address, or other relevant information, please notify the main office. Our staff will routinely make copies of your insurance cards as part of the check-in process to help us keep registration forms updated and to eliminate incorrect billing.

Please bring your insurance cards to every appointment. Destroy all old insurance cards.

• Medicare Medical Coverage
  If you are eligible to receive Medicare medical benefits, our office does accept assignment which means we accept the Medicare approved amount. Either you or your supplemental insurance will be responsible for the Medicare deductible and 20% of the approved amount.
  
  Please note that if you are participating in a Medicare replacement plan, your regular Medicare becomes inactive.
  
  
• Medicare/Medicaid or Medicaid Only
  If you are eligible to receive Medicaid medical benefits, you are responsible for payment on non-covered services.
  
  Please bring your Medicaid card with you to every visit.
  
  
• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
  If you are an HMO member, you must request a written authorization from your primary care physician for every visit at Cardiology Associates. A co-payment is due at every visit.
  
  
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)
  If you are a member of a PPO, you are responsible for the co-payment and any applicable deductibles at every visit.

Payment is due at the time services are provided.

For your convenience, we accept American Express, Discover/Novus, MasterCard, Visa, ATM cards, cash, and checks.

Here are some other websites for further reference.

• American Heart Association
• Agency For Health Care Policy and Research
• American College of Cardiology
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology