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At My Heart Spark P.C., we specialize in preoperative cardiac evaluation to ensure patients undergoing surgery are at optimal cardiovascular risk for their procedures. Led by Dr. Sherry-Ann Brown, our services support general surgery, orthopedic surgery, gynecologic surgery, and more.

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We help determine if additional cardiovascular testing is required before elective surgeries and provide expert guidance on preoperative cardiovascular risk.

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How We Assist Your Surgery Team

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1. Preoperative Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

   • Evaluating whether patients have underlying heart conditions that need management before surgery.

   • Assessing whether additional testing is required (e.g., stress tests, echocardiograms, Holter monitoring).

2. Recommendations for Additional Testing & Management

   • Identifying necessary preoperative optimization strategies to reduce surgical risk.

   • Providing guidance on perioperative beta-blocker therapy, anticoagulation management, and other cardiac considerations.

3. Clear Communication About Surgical Timelines

   • Important: If additional testing is required, surgery may be delayed based on our findings.

   • It is critical that surgical teams inform patients of this possibility before referral to avoid unexpected surgical rescheduling.

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Consult Request Checklist – What to Include When Referring a Patient

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When referring a patient for a preoperative cardiac evaluation, please provide the following details to ensure an efficient and thorough assessment:

 

1. Patient Demographics & Contact Information

• Full Name

• Date of Birth

• Medical Record Number (if applicable)

• Primary Care Physician (if applicable)

• Best Contact Information (Patient/Caregiver Phone & Email)

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2. Surgical Details

• Type of Surgery Planned (e.g., total knee replacement, hysterectomy, hernia repair)

• Surgical Specialty & Surgeon’s Name

• Scheduled Surgery Date (if known

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3. Cardiovascular History & Indications for Referral

• Known Cardiac Conditions (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias)

• Previous Cardiac Interventions (e.g., stents, bypass surgery, valve replacement)

• Recent Cardiac Symptoms (e.g., chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations)

• Relevant Medications (especially beta-blockers, anticoagulants, or diuretics)

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4. Abnormal Test Results (If Applicable)

• EKG Findings (e.g., arrhythmias, ischemic changes)

• Echocardiogram Findings (e.g., reduced ejection fraction, valvular disease)

• Stress Test or Cath Results (if available)

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5. Specific Cardiovascular Question Being Asked

• Clearly state what cardiovascular issue is being evaluated (e.g., “Is this patient safe for surgery given their history of atrial fibrillation?”)

• What specific cardiology input is needed? (e.g., “Does this patient need further testing such as a stress test before proceeding?”)

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6. Urgency of Referral

• Indicate Level of Urgency (Routine vs. Urgent)

• Reason for Urgency (e.g., upcoming surgery date)

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7. Additional Notes

• Any other relevant clinical details or concerns

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Worksheets for Referral & Preoperative Evaluation

 

1. Surgery Team Referral Form (To Be Filled Out By Referring Provider)

This structured referral worksheet will standardize the information we receive.

 

Patient Information

• ☐ Full Name: _______________________

• ☐ Date of Birth: _______________________

• ☐ Medical Record Number: _______________________

• ☐ Patient Phone: _______________________

• ☐ Patient Email: _______________________

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Surgical Information

• ☐ Surgery Type: _______________________

• ☐ Surgeon Name: _______________________

• ☐ Specialty: _______________________

• ☐ Scheduled Surgery Date: _______________________

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Cardiovascular History

• ☐ Known Cardiac Conditions (List): _______________________

• ☐ Prior Cardiac Interventions (List): _______________________

• ☐ Current Cardiac Symptoms (Check all that apply):

  • ☐ Chest pain

  • ☐ Shortness of breath

  • ☐ Palpitations

  • ☐ Fatigue

  • ☐ Other: ______________

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Relevant Test Results (Attach Reports, If Available)

• ☐ EKG Findings: _______________________

• ☐ Echocardiogram Findings: _______________________

• ☐ Stress Test or Cath Results: _______________________

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Specific Cardiovascular Question Being Asked

(Clearly specify the concern or cardiac evaluation requested)​​

 

Urgency of Referral

• ☐ Routine

• ☐ Urgent – Reason for Urgency: ______________

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Additional Notes​

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​Preoperative Cardiac Evaluation Worksheet (To Be Completed by My Heart Spark P.C.)

 

This internal worksheet will document key findings from the cardiac evaluation.

 

Patient Information

• Name: _______________________

• Date of Birth: _______________________

• Surgery Type: _______________________

• Surgery Date: _______________________

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Cardiac Risk Assessment Summary

• ☐ Low Risk

• ☐ Intermediate Risk

• ☐ High Risk

• ☐ Additional Testing Required: Yes / No

  • If Yes, Specify: _______________________

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Final Recommendations for Surgery

• ☐ Safe to Proceed Without Further Cardiac Testing

• ☐ Additional Testing Required Before Proceeding

• ☐ Cardiology Management Optimization Needed

• ☐ Postpone Surgery – Cardiology Workup Necessary

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Additional Notes & Next Steps​​

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Key Takeaways for Surgery Teams

 

* Ensure patients understand that cardiac evaluation could lead to surgery delays.
* Provide complete referral information, including the specific cardiovascular question.
* Attach abnormal test results and relevant medical history.
* Specify urgency and planned surgery date.
* Collaborate closely with My Heart Spark P.C. to ensure optimal patient safety.

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