EP152: Angela Hartly Interviewing Dr Bishop - How Often Should You See Your Doctor?

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Podcast Summary Introduction Dr. Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist based in Tasmania, Australia, who is passionate about patient education and heart health awareness. Angela from Healthy Hearties interviews Dr. Bishop about common patient questions regarding cardiology follow-up care and monitoring schedules. The episode addresses practical guidance on how frequently cardiac patients should see their cardiologist depending on their condition and stability. Key Takeaways: Follow-up frequency after hospitalization or intervention should be approximately two weeks to allow for therapy assessment and monitoring of potential side effects. Cardiac failure patients require intensive early management with frequent visits (1-2 weeks) to adjust medications, monitor electrolytes, and titrate doses to maximum tolerated levels. Once patients achieve stability on their treatment regimen, annual follow-up visits may be sufficient, provided they return immediately if symptoms change. Cardiologists should see patients annually even after stents or heart attacks to ensure they receive updated guideline-based treatments, as recommendations evolve with new research. Cholesterol targets and other clinical guidelines have changed significantly over the past 5-10 years, making periodic specialist review important. Phone consultations can be an effective tool for monitoring stable patients, allowing medication adjustments without requiring in-person visits. Patients should not self-discontinue medications due to side effects; instead, they should communicate with their doctor to discuss alternatives or dosage adjustments. Patients must actively advocate for themselves by seeking earlier appointments if they experience new symptoms rather than waiting for scheduled visits. Dr. Bishop has created the "Healthy Heart Network," a free online resource offering vetted podcasts, newsletters, and videos to help patients make informed decisions about their care.