The role of a cardiologist

A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating and preventing conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, also known as the cardiovascular system.

Cardiologists care for people with heart disease and other conditions such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and heart failure.

Your cardiologist may work with your GP and other healthcare professionals to help manage your heart health. They can assess symptoms, order tests, prescribe medicines and recommend lifestyle changes or procedures to improve heart function.

Some types of cardiologists also perform specialised procedures, such as inserting stents or pacemakers.

In Australia, cardiologists complete many years of advanced medical training through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

There are several types of cardiologists who specialise in different areas of heart and blood vessel health.

• General cardiologist: Diagnoses and manages a range of heart conditions using medicines, lifestyle advice and non-interventional treatments.
• Interventional cardiologist: Performs procedures to treat heart conditions, such as angioplasty and inserting stents to open blocked arteries.
• Electrophysiologist (EP cardiologist): Specialises in diagnosing and treating problems with the heart’s electrical system, including irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
• Heart failure specialist: Cares for people with complex or advanced heart failure and helps manage their symptoms and treatment plans.
• Cardiothoracic surgeon: Performs surgery on the heart, lungs and chest, including heart bypass surgery and heart valve surgery.
• Preventive cardiologist: Focuses on reducing a person’s chance of developing heart disease through risk assessment and lifestyle changes.
• Paediatric cardiologist: Diagnoses and treats heart conditions in babies, children, adolescents and young adults, including congenital heart disease.

Your GP can help you choose a cardiologist based on your symptoms and healthcare needs. You can also ask to see a particular cardiologist if you have a preference for their location, fees or subspecialty area.

When choosing a cardiologist, you may want to consider their qualifications, experience and if they specialise in the type of heart condition you have. You can also ask about appointment costs and waiting times.

Your GP may refer you to a cardiologist if they think you need specialist care for a heart or blood vessel condition.

This may happen if you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations or dizziness, or if tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) show an abnormal result.

Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if someone has severe chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack.

You may also see a cardiologist after a heart attack, stroke or hospital visit for a heart condition. People with a higher chance of heart disease may need specialist assessment in some situations, for example:

• people living with health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure
• people with a strong family history of heart disease
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• older adults

Some heart problems can develop during pregnancy or after giving birth. Your GP, obstetrician or midwife may recommend seeing a cardiologist if you have heart symptoms during pregnancy or existing heart disease.

Your GP can help decide if you need to see a cardiologist and how often you should have follow-up appointments. Some people only need one consultation, while others may need ongoing care for a long-term heart condition.

At your first appointment, the cardiologist will ask about your symptoms, medical history, family history and any medicines you take. They may also ask about lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity and diet. It’s a good idea to bring a list of your medicines and any recent test results.

Your cardiologist may recommend tests to help diagnose or monitor a heart condition. These may include:

• a chest x-ray
• an electrocardiogram (ECG)
• blood tests
• an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
• a stress test
• blood pressure monitoring

Most of these tests are non-invasive (do not involve surgery) and are considered safe. Your cardiologist will explain why a test is needed, how to prepare and when you can expect the results.

After reviewing your symptoms and test results, your cardiologist will discuss any diagnosis and treatment options. This may include lifestyle changes, medicines, follow-up appointments or referral for a procedure, if needed.

A cardiologist may recommend lifestyle changes, medicines, procedures or surgery to help manage a heart condition and reduce your chance of complications.

Lifestyle changes may include:

• eating a heart-healthy diet
• being physically active
• quitting smoking
• maintaining a healthy weight

Your cardiologist may also prescribe medicines to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, prevent blood clots or improve heart function. Like all medicines, heart medicines can have side effects.

Some heart conditions may require a procedure or surgery, such as inserting a stent or having coronary artery bypass surgery. Sometimes, medicines and lifestyle changes can help avoid needing an invasive procedure. Your cardiologist will discuss the risks, benefits and treatment options with you.

It can help to prepare questions before your appointment so you understand your condition and any tests you may need. Consider asking:

• What may be causing my symptoms?
• Do I need any tests or procedures?
• What do my test results mean?
• When should I seek urgent medical care?
• How often will I need follow-up appointments?

It is also important to understand your treatment options and how to manage your heart health. Consider asking:

• What treatment options are available?
• What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
• Are there any alternatives to the recommended treatment?
• What lifestyle changes could improve my heart health?
• Is there anything I should avoid?
• What side effects should I watch for if I take medicine?

Your GP can help you find a cardiologist and give you a referral if specialist care is needed. They may recommend a cardiologist based on your symptoms, location and the type of heart condition you have.

When booking an appointment, ask about waiting times, consultation fees, Medicare rebates and whether the cardiologist has experience treating your condition.

If you need an interpreter or have accessibility needs, let the clinic know when you book.

In most cases, you will need a referral from your GP or another medical specialist to see a cardiologist. A referral helps the cardiologist understand your symptoms, medical history and any other health conditions you may have.

You can see a private cardiologist without a referral, but you may not be eligible for a Medicare rebate. A valid referral is usually needed to claim Medicare benefits for specialist consultations.

The cost of seeing a cardiologist varies depending on where you live, the specialist you see, the type of appointment and whether additional tests are needed.

If you are treated as a public patient in a public hospital, specialist care is generally covered by Medicare. If you see a cardiologist in private practice, you will usually be charged a consultation fee.

Additional costs may apply for tests such as ECGs, echocardiograms or stress tests. Fees vary between providers and locations.

You may also have an out-of-pocket cost (gap fee). This is the difference between the cardiologist's fee and the amount Medicare pays. The section below explains gap fees in more detail.

What out-of-pocket costs should I expect?

A gap fee is the amount you pay after the Medicare rebate has been deducted from the specialist's fee.

Cardiologists can set their own fees, so gap fees vary between specialists and clinics. The amount you pay may depend on the length and complexity of your appointment, where the clinic is located and if you need tests during your visit.

Before booking, ask the clinic for an estimate of consultation fees, test costs and expected out-of-pocket expenses. This can help you understand the total cost of your care and avoid unexpected bills.

Use Medical Costs Finder (Opens in new tab) to compare typical costs for specialist services and learn more about Medicare rebates and out-of-pocket costs.

Yes. Medicare may cover part or all of the cost of seeing a cardiologist if you have a valid referral from a GP or another specialist.

Check if you are eligible for Medicare (Opens in new tab).

Medicare pays benefits for specialist services that are listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). In many cases, Medicare pays a rebate rather than the full fee charged by the cardiologist.

Some cardiologists bulk bill, which means they accept the Medicare benefit as full payment and you do not have an out-of-pocket cost. Others charge more than the Medicare rebate, meaning you will need to pay a gap fee. Medicare coverage for tests and procedures depends on the service provided and the relevant MBS item.

Visit myGov (Opens in new tab) for information on referrals, finding specialists, Medicare rebates and accessing specialist healthcare services in Australia.

Services Australia (Opens in new tab) has information about seeing doctors and specialists, going to hospital and accessing Medicare services.

NSW Government has Easy Read (Opens in new tab) information about health services, medical appointments and healthcare rights.

HeartKids has Easy Read (Opens in new tab) fact sheets on heart conditions and healthcare for people with different communication and learning needs.

Languages other than English

If you need an interpreter when making an appointment or seeing a cardiologist, ask the clinic if they can arrange an interpreter through Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) (Opens in new tab) by calling 131 450.

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Heart Foundation provides culturally appropriate information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Opens in new tab) about heart health, cardiovascular disease and accessing healthcare services.

HealthInfoNet (Opens in new tab) provides information about cardiovascular disease and links to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other health services.

Information for sexually and gender-diverse families

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (Opens in new tab) has information about accessing inclusive and culturally safe healthcare services.