Bethesda, MD – Women with coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure who need to be referred to a cardiologist are not getting those referrals, nor are patients with cardiovascular disease who attend community health centers, according to a study published online April 27, 2009 in Circulation.
As a result of these missed referrals, these patients are suffering adverse health effects, lead author of the study, Dr Nakela L Cook (National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD), told heartwire.
“Consultations with cardiologists may improve the quality of ambulatory care and reduce disparities for patients with heart disease,” Cook said in an interview. “Unfortunately, we found that women and patients attending community health centers were less likely than men and patients seen in hospital-based clinics to actually receive a referral to a cardiology specialist.”
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Filed under: Health News | Tagged: cardiologist, cardiovascular disease, Circulation, community health, community health center, community health clinic, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, health disparities, NHLBI, physician, primary care, referral, women | Comments Off
