Not finding a cardiologist can be scary.
Cardiovascular diseases are the second cause of mortality in France. Infarctus, heart failure, arrhythmia … Taking care of your heart is vital and the doctor specializing in choice is the cardiologist. Problem, there is a shortage of cardiologists in France. It is very often necessary to wait several months to have an appointment with a cardiologist. To go faster, Dr. Sophie Bauer, chest and cardiovascular surgeon, gives us his advice.
“The easiest way is to be oriented by your attending physiciansays our interlocutor. The general practitioner has the means to get you an appointment faster, thanks to his network and a telephone call system. “ Moreover, Going through your attending physician allows you to register in the coordinated care pathway. Consultation with the cardiologist has more likely to be better reimbursed by social security (70 % against 30 % outside coordinated care path). “Also remember to consult online electronic calendars of cardiologistscontinues Dr. Bauer. Very often, you even have the possibility of sending an email to the specialist’s secretariat with a description of your symptoms. The secretaries send your request to the cardiologist and depending on your state of health, a more or less fast consultation niche can be offered. “
Other reflexes: go to online appointments (Doctolib, Maiia …). For the most part, they have the possibility of looking for a doctor who takes new patients. You can also make the first meeting that comes and if it is late, activate the alert to be informed if a faster niche is released. Do not hesitate to check the availability of doctors who are in an area a little more distant than your place of residence. It is also possible to obtain an appointment very quickly by calling the service of access to care (SAS). This service available by calling 15 allows, when the attending physician is not available, to access a healthcare professional who can provide medical advice, offer teleconsultation or orient towards an emergency service. “”Professionals at the other end of the line know who the doctor is on duty. “
“In case of sudden symptoms, disabling and which seem serious, call 15, advises Dr. Bauer. If you suffer from great weakness, shortness of breath, a feeling of discomfort or acute pain in the chest, go to the nearest hospital emergencies or contact the 15th. ” Patients under treatment for a heart or cardiovascular problem should anticipate to never be short of drugs. If your symptoms worsen, you can go directly to the office of your attending physician, who can quickly send you a cardiologist.
Thank you to Doctor Sophie Bauer, chest and cardiovascular surgeon.
