FAQs

Follow the step wise instructions on the Become A Patient page.

Please refer to our | Contact Us| page for location and hours.

During working hours you may call (813) 229-9292. After hours, you may call the same number. After hours calls will ring over to the on call service.

You must be seen in the office to obtain preop evaluation. We STRONGLY recommend you mention the need for “clearance” during your visit to avoid needing to schedule another appointment. Please keep in mind, we may need to obtain additional testing to render a decision. This may take several weeks so please plan accordingly.

Yes, navigate to the | Patient Portal | page and register to pay bills and gain access to records, appointment booking etc.

For records from our office, please sign a letter of release with supporting identification. You may email us with records requests |HERE|

For treatment rendered in a facility or hospital, please contact the administration of that facility:

Click on Make An Appointment button. Some insurance carriers such as managed care products require a referral. For these carriers, ensure your referring physicians have appropriately filed for specialty referrals.

Call (813) 229-9292

Yes. Given the current climate, we are now offering televisits selectively. Contact us if you would like to proceed. Learn more about Televisits |HERE|.

EKGs, Ultrasound, Echocardiograms, ABIs (Ankle Brachial Index), and Stress tests are performed at the office. On rare occasions testing may be performed at other facilities. MRI and CT scans are performed at outside imaging facilities.

Take your medications as regularly scheduled, unless your physician has instructed you otherwise. If you have a history of asthma, bring your inhalers with you.

Do not smoke the day of your test.

Do not eat solid food TWO HOURS PRIOR to your scheduled test time. Diabetic patients may have a light snack or follow physician recommendations.

If you are scheduled for a treadmill stress test, wear flat, comfortable walking shoes and non-restrictive clothes. Women may want to wear a button-up blouse (but do not have to) and should avoid dresses and pantyhose.

Bring a list of your current medications.

Nuclear Cardiac Stress tests are performed at our office. Various drugs and supplies are ordered for your specific test. If you are unable to keep this appointment you must notify the office by NOON of the day PRIOR to your test. The drugs and supplies are ordered for you specifically and are not used for other patients. If you do not follow the cancellation policy you may be billed $100 for the cost of these supplies and drugs. These costs are NOT covered by your insurance plan. Please arrive at the office reception desk 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to register. Please bring your insurance cards and/or your necessary forms.

• DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR SMOKE AFTER MIDNIGHT the night prior to the test being performed.
• DO NOT take any medications the morning of your test unless your Physician advises you otherwise.
• If you have any known allergies or you are diabetic do not take your insulin and inform the receptionist and technologist of this condition.
• Please dress casually and wear comfortable shoes or sneakers.
• Please inform the Technologist if you think or are pregnant

• No special preparation is required prior to the test.
• You may eat food as you would regularly
• Please avoid using body lotions on the day of the exam.
• Durations of the exam are as follows:
  • Echocardiograms: 30-40min
  • ABI: 15-20min
  • EKG: 5min

Tampa Cardiac Specialist physicians perform procedures either in the office or at these hospitals:

• Click here for |St. Joseph’s Hospital – North|
• Click here for |St. Joseph’s Hospital – Main|

If your procedure is scheduled at the hospital, they will contact you approximately 1 week prior to your scheduled procedure to discuss logistics. Please click on the links below to speak with them directly.

• Click here for |St. Joseph’s Hospital – North|
• Click here for |St. Joseph’s Hospital – Main|

• If your procedure is being performed at the office, you can contact the billing specialist to discuss out of pocket expenses. If performed at the hospital you may contact the BayCare billing number at (813) 852-3088.

Always plan to stay overnight for any procedure as unexpected events may occur which require overnight observations. As a rough rule, however, here are the expected stays:

• Continuous loop recorder implant/explant (LINQ): Same day discharge
• SVT/PVC Ablation: Most likely same day discharge, but overnight stay should be anticipated
• AF/VT Ablation : Overnight stay in most cases.
• New Pacemaker/ICD Implant: Overnight stay
• Lead/Device extraction: Overnight stay
• Pacemaker/ICD battery exchange: Same day discharge in most cases.

• For hospital billing questions, call (813) 852-3088
• For office billing questions, call (804) 793-8783

• Yes, navigate to the |Patient Portal| site and register to pay bills and gain access to records, appointment booking etc.

Tampa Cardiac Specialists is seperately owned and operated from BayCare Health Systems. Accordingly, any billing responsibilties are subject to our financial policy.