Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic

Rapid Specialist Cardiology Assessment When Time Matters

Shore Cardiology is proud to partner with Rapid Access Cardiology to provide expedited specialist cardiac assessment for patients requiring urgent review.

The Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic has been developed to bridge the gap between emergency department presentations, primary care and specialist cardiology services. The aim is to provide timely access to cardiology review and cardiac testing while reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and avoiding delays in diagnosis.

Patients can often be assessed within days rather than weeks, with access to a broad range of investigations and specialist cardiology expertise.

What Is Rapid Access Cardiology?

Rapid Access Cardiology is a model of care designed to facilitate prompt outpatient assessment of patients with potentially significant cardiac symptoms.

Many patients presenting with chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or shortness of breath do not require hospital admission but still require urgent specialist review.

By providing rapid access to cardiology consultation and cardiac investigations, patients can often be safely assessed in the outpatient setting while maintaining high standards of clinical care.

Who Is The Clinic Designed For?

The Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic is suitable for patients who require urgent cardiology assessment but do not require immediate hospital admission.

Common reasons for referral include:

  • Chest pain

  • Palpitations

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • Dizziness

  • Syncope or blackouts

  • Shortness of breath

  • Abnormal ECG findings

  • Elevated cardiac biomarkers

  • New heart murmurs

  • Concerning cardiac symptoms requiring expedited review

Patients may be referred directly by their general practitioner, emergency department or another specialist.

Chest Pain Assessment

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for urgent cardiology referral.

The clinic provides timely assessment of patients with:

  • New chest discomfort

  • Exertional chest pain

  • Atypical chest pain

  • Recurrent emergency department presentations

  • Intermediate-risk chest pain

Investigations may include ECG, echocardiography, stress echocardiography or CT Coronary Angiography depending on the clinical situation.

Palpitations and Arrhythmias

Many patients experience intermittent palpitations that are difficult to diagnose without specialist assessment.

The clinic provides investigation and management of:

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • Atrial flutter

  • Supraventricular tachycardia

  • Ventricular ectopy

  • Bradycardia

  • Unexplained palpitations

Heart rhythm monitoring can often be arranged promptly to facilitate diagnosis.

Syncope and Dizziness

Transient loss of consciousness or recurrent dizziness may have a cardiac cause and often requires timely investigation.

Assessment may include:

  • ECG

  • Echocardiography

  • Holter monitoring

  • Extended ambulatory ECG monitoring

  • Blood pressure assessment

The goal is to identify potentially serious causes while avoiding unnecessary hospital admission where appropriate.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath may result from a range of cardiovascular conditions including:

  • Heart failure

  • Coronary artery disease

  • Atrial fibrillation

  • Valve disease

  • Cardiomyopathy

Rapid specialist review allows earlier diagnosis and treatment planning.

Cardiac Investigations Available

Depending on the patient's presentation, investigations may include:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)

  • Echocardiography

  • Stress echocardiography

  • Holter monitoring

  • Ambulatory ECG monitoring

  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

  • Cardiac MRI

  • CT Coronary Angiography

  • Coronary calcium scoring

Access to comprehensive cardiac testing helps streamline diagnosis and management.

Supporting General Practitioners

The Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic has been designed to support general practitioners by providing timely access to specialist review and investigation.

Following assessment, a detailed management plan is provided to the referring doctor outlining investigation results, diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

We work closely with referring practitioners to ensure continuity of care and efficient patient management.

Supporting Emergency Departments

The clinic also supports emergency departments by providing an alternative pathway for selected patients who require urgent cardiology review but may not require hospital admission.

This approach can help reduce unnecessary admissions while maintaining rapid access to specialist cardiac assessment and investigation.

Why Choose Rapid Access Cardiology?

  • Expedited cardiology assessment

  • Reduced waiting times

  • Comprehensive cardiac investigations

  • Partnership with Rapid Access Cardiology

  • Access to advanced cardiac imaging

  • Support for general practitioners and emergency departments

  • Convenient locations at Northern Beaches Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital

  • Specialist cardiologist-led care

Referrals

Referrals are welcomed from general practitioners, emergency departments and specialist practitioners.

Patients requiring urgent cardiology assessment can be referred directly to Shore Cardiology for rapid review and investigation.

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