Frequently Asked Questions:

General Office:

Are you taking new patients?
What are you office hours?
What types of insurance do you take?
Will Tidewater Heart Institute bill my insurance?
Which hospitals are you associated with?
Do you take self-pay patients?
Can I pay my bill with a credit card?
Who can I contact about billing questions?
What if I need to cancel or change my appointment?
I need a prescription refill, who do I call?

General Lab:

What are your lab hours?
What types of tests do you perform in your lab?
How long do the lab tests take?
Do I need to bring my medicine to the appointment?
Can I eat in the middle of my tests?
Can my family come with me to the lab?
When do I get my lab results?

General Cardiology:

• What is a cardiologist?
A cardiologist is a doctor that specializes in treating problems in the cardiovascular system - the heart, arteries and viens.

• Why do I need to see a cardiologist?
Your primary care physician may recommend you see a cardiologist for various reasons. Most likely, you are exhibiting cardiovascular symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizzy spells or chest pain. If you have recently been hospitalized with a severe heart problem, such as a heart attack, severe heart failure or a heart rhythm problem, you will likely see a cardiologist.

Are you taking new patients?
Yes, Tidewater Heart Institute is taking new patients. Call (757) 825-4260 to schedule an appointment.
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What are your office hours?
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
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What types of insurance do you take?
For a complete list of insurances we accept, visit our insurance finder page.
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Will Tidewater Heart Institute bill my insurance company?
Yes, we typically bill most commercial and goverment insurance plans.
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Which hospitals are you associated with?
Our physicians maintain hosptial privileges at Mary Immaculate Hospital, Riverside Regional Medical Center and Sentara Careplex Hosptial. See our hospital procedure page for more information on what types of procedures we perform at these hospitals.
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Do you take self-pay patient?
Yes, Tidewater Heart Institute accepts self-pay patients.
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Can I pay my bill with a credit card?
Yes, Tidewater Heart Institute accepts Visa and Mastercard.
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Who can I contact about billing questions?
You can contact our billing department directly by calling (757) 224-3425.
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What if I need to cancel or change my appointment?
If you need to cancel or change your appointment, call our office at (757) 825-4260. For stress testing we require a 24-hour notice to cancel or change an appointment.
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I need a prescription refill, who do I call?
You can call our office at (757) 825-4260. Prescription refills are available during regular business hours. If you have not recently seen a physician, you may be asked to schedule an apointment prior to refill.
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What are your lab hours?
Our lab is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
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What types of tests do you perform in your lab?
We perform several types of diagnostic tests in our lab, including nuclear testing. To learn more about the test we perform, visit our cardiac diagnostic services page.
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How long do the lab tests take?
This depends on the type of test. For nuclear testing expect to spend 4-5 hours at hour lab.
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Do I need to bring my medication to the appointment?
We request that you bring all of your medications to your appointment. Or, you can bring a complete list of your medications that includes the medication name, dose and dose instructions (how often you take your medicine). This will help our clinicians make the best decisions possible when involving your care.
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Can I eat in the middle of my tests?
No, you cannot eat in the middle of your nuclear testing. We do provide snacks and drink to patients, once they have completed their testing.
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Can my family come with me to the lab?
Your family members are welcome to come with your to the lab. However, they will not be allowed in the testing area. This is for their safety. Family members that accompany patients to nuclear testing must remain in the waiting room.
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When do I get my lab results?
Lab results are not given out over the phone. If you are a Tidewater Heart patient, you will need an appointment to get your lab results. These appointments are usually scheduled for 2-3 days after your lab tests. If you just came to Tidewater Heart Institute for lab tests, your results are sent to your physician.
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