Navigating the Clinical Component
Your Cardiology Practice Experience
Your clinical practice will be entirely outpatient-focused, allowing you to build lasting relationships with patients while maintaining the work-life balance that drew you to this opportunity. You will see a diverse patient population ranging from routine cardiac risk assessments to complex management of heart failure, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease, with the satisfaction of providing care that would otherwise require patients to travel hours to larger cities.
The practice structure reflects a commitment to sustainable cardiology care. You will typically see patients Monday through Thursday, with clinic hours designed around 10-hour days that allow you to maintain productivity while preserving your three-day weekends. Patient volumes are building steadily as the community becomes aware of local cardiology services, with expectations of seeing a reasonable number of patients per day once the practice is fully established.
Clinical Environment:
- 100% outpatient practice with no hospital rounding or inpatient consults required
- Mix of new patient evaluations and established patient follow-ups
- Broad spectrum of general cardiology conditions including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular disease, and preventive cardiology
- Patient population spans all age groups with typical rural demographics
- Strong referral relationships with primary care physicians throughout the region
- Two dedicated exam rooms in the cardiology clinic space
- Modern, well-maintained clinic facilities with recent renovations
Diagnostic Capabilities and Reading Responsibilities:
- Comprehensive EKG interpretation for the entire health system
- Adult stress testing including nuclear cardiology and echocardiographic stress tests
- Echocardiogram interpretation (transthoracic echocardiography)
- Holter monitor and event monitor analysis
- Vascular ultrasound capabilities
- CT calcium scoring for cardiac risk assessment
- Dedicated reading time built into schedule (typically Fridays)
- All outpatient cardiac diagnostic studies for the region route through your interpretation
- Support from experienced cardiac sonographers and technologists
Technology and Systems:
- Epic EMR system (Montrose location currently operational, Cortez location transitioning to Epic in early 2025)
- Current Cortez location operates on separate system until certificate of occupancy approval and Epic integration
- AI-assisted dictation available to streamline documentation
- Digital PACS system for imaging review
- Secure remote access for reading studies and managing patient messages
- Integrated laboratory and radiology results within EMR
Call and Coverage:
- No call responsibilities - truly outpatient-focused practice
- No emergency department consults required
- Telephone encounters and patient portal messages managed during regular business hours
- Vacation coverage provided by locum tenens or regional cardiology colleagues
- Flexibility to manage your patient panel remotely for urgent issues during brief absences
Clinical Support:
- Dedicated medical assistant with cardiology experience
- Nursing support for patient triage and care coordination
- Access to registered dietitian for cardiac nutrition counseling
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services available on-site (both cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs)
- Heart Failure Clinic for comprehensive management of complex heart failure patients
- Cardio-Oncology Program for patients receiving cardiotoxic cancer therapies
- Sleep lab for evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing in cardiac patients
- Pharmacy consultation for complex medication management
Collaborative Care Model:
- Full-service cardiac catheterization laboratory on-site with visiting interventional cardiologists
- Comprehensive interventional procedures including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary interventions, and percutaneous heart valve repairs
- Advanced imaging during procedures including intracoronary ultrasound and fractional flow reserve measurements
- Device implantation capabilities including pacemakers, ICDs, and biventricular pacemakers
- Cardioversion services available for arrhythmia management
- Electrophysiology services available through regional partnerships
- Cardiothoracic surgery referrals coordinated with established networks in larger Colorado cities
- Strong communication with primary care regarding shared patients
- Multidisciplinary approach to complex cardiovascular cases including heart failure, cardio-oncology, and structural heart disease
The clinical environment emphasizes quality over quantity, allowing you to practice thorough, thoughtful cardiology without the pressures common in high-volume metropolitan practices. You will have time to educate patients, coordinate complex care, and maintain the comprehensive reading responsibilities that keep your noninvasive skills sharp. The practice model recognizes that sustainable cardiology requires reasonable patient volumes, adequate support staff, and protected time for the cognitive work of interpretation and care coordination.
Your patients will deeply appreciate having access to subspecialty cardiac care without the burden of traveling to Grand Junction, Denver, or Albuquerque. This genuine gratitude, combined with the professional autonomy and lifestyle benefits, creates a uniquely satisfying practice environment rarely found in modern cardiology.