Cardiology Consult 🫀
Guide for cardiology consultation and referral. Key information to provide, common indications, and referral scripts for NCHDs.
📋 Key Info to Have Ready
- Patient identifiers: full name, date of birth, location and MRN; note that admission may not be for a cardiology reason
- Reason for consult and relevant timeline (e.g. chest pain onset, syncope episode)
- Past Medical History: cardiac history (e.g. IHD, AF, stents, heart failure, valves)
- Medications: especially anticoagulants, antiplatelets, rate/rhythm control
- Observations: vitals, ECG findings, SpO₂, trends
- Relevant bloods: Troponin, BNP, U&E, FBC
- Imaging: latest CXR, echo reports if available
- ECGs: ideally attach or be able to describe key features
- Clinical impression and what you are seeking (e.g. ?ACS, ?pericarditis, ?echo needed)
🔎 Investigations to Know
- ECG – ideally within the last hour if unstable
- Troponin – ensure result available or pending
- CXR – rule out pulmonary causes of chest pain
- Echocardiogram – recent result if relevant, or state if requesting
- Bloods – U&E, FBC, Coag, BNP (if suspecting heart failure)
📞 Example Script
- Hi, this is [Your Name], the intern from the [Team Name]. I'm calling to request a cardiology consult for a [Age] year-old [M/F] patient, admitted for [reason for admission], but with a cardiology concern of [e.g. chest pain / palpitations / syncope].
- They have a background of [PMH], and are currently [hemodynamically stable/unstable]. ECG shows [e.g. ST depressions anteriorly], Troponin is [value], and we're querying [e.g. NSTEMI vs. pericarditis].
- We're hoping for your review regarding [diagnosis/investigation/treatment advice]. I can send you the ECG and bloods via [system used].
- Let me know if you'd prefer us to get anything else before you come.
📝 Tips
- Be clear if the consult is urgent or routine
- Know the plan for anticoagulation if relevant
- Have printed ECGs and results ready on paper or electronically
- Clarify what your team is looking for from cardiology