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How do I know if my condition is serious and needs
immediate attention?
How do I know if my condition is serious and needs immediate attention? Sometimes it is difficult to be sure, and since cardiac disease is potentially so serious, it is best to err on the safe side. This means that you should get an evaluation for any symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, or syncope (fainting or passing out). In the case of severe and unrelenting chest pain, you should either call 911 or go immediately to the nearest hospital.
What do I do in case of an emergency? The Coastal Heart office number, 912-355-5333, is answered 24 hours a day. In cases when Dr. Drake is not available, another cardiologist can be reached through this number. In cases of a severe emergency, it is advisable to go immediately to the nearest emergency room. Many patients hesitate to call when sick, hoping they will get better. Sometimes people wait to call until it is after office hours or too late in the day to be seen. It is always unwise to treat any illness this way, but it can be very dangerous with heart disease. Please call for an appointment soon enough for an office visit to be arranged, if possible, before night or weekends.
The best person to make this decision might be your family doctor. A cardiologist is often needed for special cardiac testing or if significant heart disease has been diagnosed. Severe chronic conditions often require regular follow-up with a cardiologist. Many of our patients come on referral once the family doctor or generalist has determined that cardiologic expertise is needed. However, Coastal Heart will schedule appointments even if there is no referring physician, and some of our patients are self-referred because they want to put their mind at rest.
What services do you provide in the office? We provide a large number of tests and other services in the office, including laboratory services, electrocardiograms, echocardiography, stress testing, and 24-hour continuous monitors. Click here for a list.
Is it hard to get an appointment? Because heart disease can be so serious, it is best not to delay. We usually try to get new patients an appointment within about a week. Priority in follow-up appointment varies depending on the circumstances. Click here for more information about new patient visits.
Will I have to have a catheterization or an operation? It is impossible to predict this until after you have been evaluated. However, it might be reassuring to learn that most of the patients who receive an evaluation do not need any invasive test or operation. At Coastal Heart we approach invasive testing and procedures with a conservative attitude.
Dr. Drake currently limits his practice to Candler Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. The hospital to be used for your care will depend on what you need to have done, what type of illness you have, your insurance plan, where you live, and Dr. Drake’s schedule.
Will you return my phone calls? All patients are encouraged to call with questions relative to their medical problems. Members of the office staff will screen the calls, obtain an answer from the doctor, and return the call. Dr. Drake will personally return your call when he feels it is advisable. We do not routinely call regarding normal lab results or x-rays, but will generally discuss test results at the next appointment. If there is an abnormal value or finding which needs attention, we will contact you. If you wish to hear about specifics of lab tests and have not received a call, you may call and ask. There is no charge for telephone calls.
Will you refill my medication? It is not necessary to have an office visit just to get medications refilled. However, medications cannot be refilled safely or ethically unless a patient is followed regularly. The frequency of the visits will depend on the condition and which medications are involved. All prescriptions and refills should be requested during office hours. Try to avoid calling for refills on the weekend, since the doctor may not have easy access to your chart. If you call and think medication may be needed, please have available the phone number of your pharmacy.
Can’t we try something natural such as alternative medicine? Alternative medicine is growing in popularity. There can be a lot of benefit from alternative treatments, but there is also some danger and a lot of misinformation about them. What is it going to cost? Do you accept my insurance plan? Click here for a full discussion about our charges and insurance plan participation.
How can I learn more about my condition? A number of national organizations have created information resources on the web which discuss cardiac illness in detail. Rather than duplicating a lot of this information, we have instead provided a series of links which our patients may find useful. Click here
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