A heart group is a medical practice where multiple cardiologists and heart specialists work together in one organization

A heart group is a cardiology practice owned and operated by cardiologists themselves, rather than by a hospital or larger health system. The cardiologists in the group share office space, staff, equipment, and patient records. Some heart groups are small — two or three doctors in one location — while others span multiple clinics across a region and employ dozens of specialists.

Heart groups differ from hospital cardiology departments because the cardiologists own the practice and make decisions about how it runs. They also differ from solo practices, where one cardiologist works alone. In a heart group, patients may see different cardiologists depending on availability, urgency, or the type of heart problem being treated.

The structure affects how you schedule appointments, which doctor you see, how your records move between visits, and sometimes what tests or procedures are available in-house versus referred elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Heart groups are cardiology practices owned by the cardiologists who work there, not by hospitals or corporations.
  • Patients in a heart group may see different cardiologists depending on appointment availability and the type of heart condition being treated.
  • Heart groups often have their own imaging equipment, catheterization labs, or echocardiography suites on-site, reducing referrals to hospitals.
  • Insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs depend on whether the heart group is in-network with your plan and whether procedures are done in the office or at a hospital facility.
  • Heart groups may refer complex cases to hospitals or specialists, but routine follow-up and monitoring usually happens within the group.

How heart groups are structured and staffed

A heart group typically includes cardiologists (doctors who specialize in heart disease), interventional cardiologists (who perform catheterizations and angioplasties), and sometimes electrophysiologists (who treat heart rhythm problems). Many groups also employ nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and specialized nurses who work under the cardiologists' supervision.

The group owns or leases office space and medical equipment. Common equipment includes echocardiography machines (ultrasound of the heart), stress test equipment, EKG machines, and sometimes a catheterization lab for procedures like angiograms and stent placement. Larger groups may have multiple locations, with some equipment at each site and some centralized.

Decisions about which tests to order, which procedures to perform in-house, and which to refer to a hospital are made by the cardiologists who own the group. This is different from a hospital cardiology department, where hospital administrators and policies shape those decisions.

Appointment scheduling and continuity of care

When you call a heart group to schedule an appointment, you typically reach a central scheduling desk that manages all the cardiologists' calendars. If your regular cardiologist is booked, you may be offered an appointment with another cardiologist in the group. Some groups try to keep you with the same doctor for continuity; others prioritize getting you in quickly with whoever is available.

All cardiologists in the group usually have access to the same electronic medical record system, so any doctor in the practice can see your test results, previous visits, medications, and history. This means a different cardiologist can pick up your care without starting from scratch.

For urgent problems — chest pain, shortness of breath, or abnormal heart rhythms — heart groups often have same-day or next-day slots reserved. Some groups have on-call cardiologists available by phone for emergencies, though life-threatening situations still go to a hospital emergency department.

In-house testing and procedures versus hospital referrals

One advantage of a heart group is that many tests and procedures can happen in the office without a hospital visit. Echocardiograms, stress tests, EKGs, and Holter monitors (portable heart rhythm recorders) are routinely done on-site. This saves time and often costs less than a hospital facility.

Some heart groups have their own catheterization labs and can perform angiograms, angioplasties, and stent placements without referring you to a hospital. Others do not have a cath lab and refer those procedures to a hospital partner. Before choosing a heart group, you can ask whether they perform common procedures in-house or refer them out.

Complex cases — such as open-heart surgery, heart transplants, or treatment of rare valve diseases — are always referred to a hospital with a cardiac surgery program. Heart groups handle diagnosis, medication management, and monitoring; hospitals handle major surgery.

Insurance and costs at a heart group

Whether your insurance covers a heart group visit depends on whether that group is in-network with your plan. If it is in-network, you pay your regular copay or coinsurance. If it is out-of-network, you may pay a higher percentage of the bill or the full cost upfront and seek reimbursement later.

Procedures done in a heart group's office usually cost less than the same procedure at a hospital outpatient facility, because the group's overhead is lower. However, if a procedure requires hospital equipment or admission, you will be referred to a hospital and charged at the hospital's rate.

Before your first visit, call the heart group's billing department and confirm that they are in-network with your insurance. Ask what your copay or coinsurance will be for an office visit and what the cost difference is between an office procedure and a hospital procedure, if that applies to your situation.

Choosing between a heart group and other cardiology settings

A heart group is one of several places where you can receive cardiology care. A hospital cardiology department is run by the hospital and may have more resources for complex cases. A solo cardiologist practice is owned by one doctor and offers continuity but less backup if that doctor is unavailable. A large health system cardiology practice is part of a corporation and may have the most locations and services but less autonomy for individual doctors.

The choice often depends on what is available in your area, which practices are in-network with your insurance, and what type of care you need. If you need routine monitoring and office-based testing, a heart group may be convenient and cost-effective. If you need a major procedure or have a rare condition, a large hospital system with more specialists may be better.

You can ask your primary care doctor which heart groups or cardiology practices they refer to and why. You can also call a few practices and ask about their equipment, procedures, and how they handle referrals to hospitals.

How heart groups work with hospitals and specialists

Heart groups maintain relationships with one or more hospitals for procedures and admissions that cannot be done in the office. A cardiologist in the group may have admitting privileges at a specific hospital, meaning they can admit patients there and follow their care during hospitalization.

When you need a procedure that requires a hospital, your cardiologist at the heart group coordinates with the hospital. You may have pre-operative visits at the heart group's office and post-operative follow-up there as well, with the hospital handling the procedure itself.

Some heart groups are affiliated with a single hospital system; others work with multiple hospitals. If you have a preference for a particular hospital, ask your cardiologist whether they have privileges there before you commit to a heart group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I see the same cardiologist every time I visit a heart group?

Not necessarily. Many heart groups assign you a primary cardiologist, but if that doctor is unavailable, you may see another cardiologist in the group. All cardiologists have access to your records, so continuity of information is maintained even if you see different doctors. Some groups prioritize keeping you with the same doctor; others prioritize quick scheduling. Ask the group about their policy when you schedule your first appointment.

Can a heart group do a heart catheterization or angioplasty in their office?

Some heart groups have their own catheterization labs and perform these procedures in-house. Others do not and refer you to a hospital. Ask the heart group directly whether they perform catheterizations and angioplasties on-site, because this affects convenience and cost. If they do not, ask which hospital they refer to and whether your cardiologist will follow your care there.

What happens if I have a heart attack or emergency while seeing a heart group?

Call 911 when ready. A heart group office is not equipped for life-threatening emergencies; you need a hospital emergency department with a full cardiac team. After you recover, your cardiologist at the heart group will coordinate your follow-up care and work with the hospital on your discharge plan.

Is a heart group more expensive than a hospital cardiology department?

Office visits and procedures at a heart group are usually less expensive than the same services at a hospital, because overhead is lower. However, the final cost depends on your insurance plan, whether the group is in-network, and what services you need. Call the billing department of both the heart group and the hospital to compare costs for your specific situation.

How do I know if a heart group is right for me?

Consider whether the group is in-network with your insurance, whether they offer the services you need (such as stress testing or catheterization), and whether their location and hours are convenient. Ask your primary care doctor for a referral and ask the heart group about their experience with your specific heart condition. You can also ask whether they have same-day or next-day appointments for urgent problems.