Building Your Cardiac Care Team

After my diagnosis, I assumed my job as a patient was to show up, listen, and follow instructions. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize that being an active participant in my own care — asking questions, tracking my own information, and yes, sometimes pushing back — wasn’t disrespectful to my doctors. It was part of getting better care.

If you’re early in your own cardiac journey, here’s what I’ve learned about building a care team that actually works for you.

Your Cardiologist Is the Center, but Rarely the Whole Team

Most people recovering from a serious cardiac event end up with more than one specialist involved — a cardiologist, possibly an electrophysiologist or heart failure specialist, a primary care doctor, a cardiac rehab team, and sometimes a dietitian or mental health professional. Knowing who’s responsible for what prevents things from falling through the cracks between appointments.

Ask directly: “Who is the person I should call for this specific concern?” for medications, for symptoms, and for scheduling. Having clear answers to that removes a lot of confusion during a stressful moment.

Come to Appointments With Questions Written Down

I started keeping a running list on my phone of questions as they occurred to me during the week, rather than trying to remember them in the exam room. Appointments move quickly, and it’s easy to leave having forgotten the one thing you actually wanted to ask. A written list, even three bullet points, changes that.

Some questions worth having on hand at every visit:

• Has anything changed in my test results since last time, and what does that mean?
• Should any of my medications be adjusted?
• Are there any activity or diet restrictions that have changed?
• What symptoms should prompt me to call before my next scheduled visit?

Understand Your Own Numbers

I made a point of learning what my own ejection fraction, blood pressure targets, and key lab values actually meant, rather than nodding along to numbers I didn’t understand. You don’t need a medical degree — you need enough understanding to notice when something is trending in the wrong direction and to ask an informed question about it.

Ask your doctor to explain any number in plain language if they haven’t already. That’s a completely reasonable request, not an imposition.

A Second Opinion Is a Normal Part of Serious Care, Not an Insult

For a major diagnosis, treatment decision, or if something about your care doesn’t sit right with you, seeking a second opinion is standard medical practice — not a sign of distrust, and not something that should offend a good doctor. Most physicians expect and respect it, especially for decisions like surgery, device implantation, or a significant medication change.

If you’re hesitant to ask your current doctor for a referral to get a second opinion, you can also request your own records directly and schedule with another specialist independently.

Bring Someone With You When You Can

During my own recovery, having someone else in the room meant there was a second set of ears remembering what was said, especially early on when I was still adjusting to a lot of new information at once. If you don’t have someone who can attend in person, ask whether the office allows a phone call to be on speaker, or whether you can record the visit summary afterward.

You’re Allowed to Advocate for Yourself

If something feels wrong, or you don’t feel heard, it is entirely appropriate to say so plainly, ask for clarification, or seek care elsewhere. Being a “good patient” doesn’t mean being a passive one. The patients who do best long-term tend to be the ones who stay engaged, curious, and willing to ask one more question.

Take the Next Step

Hope After Heart Failure: A Survivor's Guide for Recovery After Cardiac Crisis is a chapter-by-chapter companion for every dimension of cardiac recovery — from fear and fatigue to relationships, identity, medications, cognitive fog, and finding purpose again.

Visit hopeafterheartfailure.com to learn more.

Additional Resources for Heart Failure Survivors

• American Heart Association — heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure
• Mended Hearts (peer support) — mendedhearts.org
• Heart Failure Society of America — hfsa.org
• CardioSmart (ACC) — cardiosmart.org

Greg R. Traver is a heart failure survivor, author, and advocate. After surviving three “widow maker” heart attacks and two cardiac crises, he wrote Hope After Heart Failure — the book he wished he’d had when his own recovery began. He shares ongoing encouragement and resources at hopeafterheartfailure.com.