Cardiology Coding Guidelines & Best Practices
What is Cardiology?
Cardiology is a medical specialty and a branch of internal medicine concerned with disorders of the heart. It deals with diagnosing and treating conditions like congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, electrophysiology, heart failure, and valvular heart disease.
Interventional Cardiology
Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty that uses specialized catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease, vascular disease, structural heart disease, and congenital heart defects. Interventional cardiologists use various diagnostic tools and imaging techniques to measure cardiovascular functions such as blood pressure and blood flow in major arteries throughout the body and within the different chambers of the heart. Interventional cardiologists do not perform traditional “open” heart surgeries.
Types of Cardiologists
Non-Invasive Cardiologist
Invasive Cardiologist (Electrophysiologist Cardiologist)
Interventional Cardiologist
Cardiac Surgeons
Differences Between IVC, General Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
General cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and caring for patients with hypertension, high cholesterol, and elevated risk of heart attack or stroke. They conduct and order many types of tests and procedures related to cardiovascular concerns and heart-rhythm disorders.
Interventional cardiologists are cardiology subspecialists trained to place stents in clogged arteries to allow proper blood flow, reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack, and repair holes or place special devices in the heart to help function properly. They also perform specific catheter-based treatments for heart disease.
Cardiac surgeons perform traditional “open” heart surgeries, such as coronary artery bypass surgery.
Common Cardiology Related Tests
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Ambulatory ECG
An exercise test or stress test
Echocardiogram
Cardiac catheterization
Nuclear cardiology
