How Do You Choose The Right Heart Doctor?

Often the best place to start is with a general cardiologist, who can then refer you to a specialist if necessary.

Published: November 13, 2007

When you have a heart problem, the first thing to do is find a good cardiologist. The place to start is with your primary care physician, says Curtis Rimmerman, MD, Cleveland Clinics Gus P. Karos Chair of Clinical Cardiovascular Medicine. "I think of the primary care physician as the quarterback," he says. "They work closely with local subspecialists to maintain optimal lines of communication."