Have questions about appointments, cardiac testing, insurance, or what to expect at Premier Choice Cardiology? Find quick answers to some of the questions patients ask most often. If you have a question that is not covered here, our team can help you understand the next steps.
We usually start the appointment by just sitting down and talking. We want to hear what’s going on, look over your medical history, check what medications you’re on and talk about any risk factors. We might do a physical exam or run a quick test if it makes sense.
Grab your insurance card, a photo ID, and a quick list of the meds you take. Bring old medical records or test results from another doctor if you have. And if you fill out your patient paperwork beforehand.
It honestly depends on why you’re here. A standard chat takes less time, but if we’re running tests right then and there, you’ll be here a bit longer. When you book, our front desk can give you a better estimate.
That’s entirely up to your health insurance plan. Some require a note from your primary care doctor, while others don’t care at all. A quick phone call to your insurance provider or our office will clear it up right away.
For sure. You don’t have to be tied to a specific participating health plan to get care here. If you’re paying out of pocket, we can walk you through how that works.
Tell us everything that feels off, even if you think it’s minor. Mention any past health issues, allergies, surgeries, heart procedures, and let us know if heart trouble runs in your family.
We take a lot of the major ones like Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, Horizon BCBS, United Healthcare, and Oxford. Insurance rules change all the time though, so it’s always safest to call our office first to double-check.
Yes, we certainly do. Just give us a quick ring beforehand so we can look at your specific benefits and make sure everything is good to go for the service you need.
Please do! Bring your current card and a photo ID so we can make sure our files are up to date and avoid any billing headaches.
Yes, absolutely. For any plan we participate with, our office takes care of filing the claims on your behalf.
Don’t stress. Just give us a call to chat about your options. Even if we aren’t directly in your plan’s network, we can usually figure out a direct payment arrangement.
Our doors are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
We have two offices right here in New Jersey. One in Lakewood and one in Brick. We are taking care of people all over Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
Yep, just pick up the phone and call us directly. We’ll get you on the schedule or answer whatever questions you’ve got.
We sure do. Virtual visits are a great option for certain types of consultations when coming into the office isn’t necessary.
If something comes up after we’ve closed for the day, just call our main office number. Our answering service will grab your message and connect you straight to the on-call physician.
Forms like FMLA or non-urgent disability paperwork usually take about 7 to 10 business days. That said, our team always tries to hustle and get them done sooner whenever we possibly can.
We do a ton of testing right in our office so you don’t have to run all over town. That includes EKGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, Holter monitors, carotid ultrasounds, vascular testing, and pacemaker check-ups.
An EKG is a super quick, completely painless test that looks at the electrical signals of your heart to catch any weird rhythms.
Not even a little bit. It’s totally noninvasive. We just stick a few small patches on your skin and you’re good to go.
Think of it as an ultrasound, but for your heart. It uses sound waves to show us moving pictures of your heart valves and chambers so we can see how well it’s pumping.
This just checks how your heart handles a workout. We watch your heart rate and rhythm while you walk on a treadmill or pedal a bike.
It’s similar to a regular stress test, but we use a tiny, safe trace of a radioactive substance and special imaging to see how well blood is moving through your heart muscle while you rest and while you exercise.
If you’ve been having a random heart flutter that a 5-second EKG keeps missing, we’ll send you home wearing a small portable monitor to track your rhythm over a day or two.
This is a painless ultrasound that looks at the main blood vessels in your neck to check circulation and see if there’s any plaque buildup.
This test checks the blood flow in your arms and legs to make sure you’re getting good circulation away from your heart.
Sometimes we use an abdominal ultrasound to check out the major blood vessels in your belly, depending on what kind of symptoms you’re describing to us.
It depends entirely on the test. Some require zero prep, while others might ask you to fast or skip certain medications. We’ll give you clear, step-by-step instructions when we book it.
Never stop taking your meds on a hunch. Always follow the specific instructions our team gives you before your test.
For some tests, yes; for others, no. Just ask us when you schedule so you know whether you need an empty stomach.
Showing up about 10 to 15 minutes early gives you breathing room to check in, update paperwork, and make sure everything is in order.
Most test results are ready on the exact same day. If it’s something that takes a little more digging by the doctor, it usually takes up to three days, and routine labs take about 24 to 48 hours.
Yes, of course. Dr. Tanveer will sit down and talk you through what the numbers actually mean and what our next step should be.
If something pops up that we need to address, don’t panic. Your cardiologist will talk you through it honestly and explain whether we need medication, more testing, or just a shift in your daily routine.
Not always! It really depends on why you took the test in the first place and what your doctor thinks is best for your long-term health.
If you’re having sudden, severe chest pain, do not wait around for an office appointment. Call 911 immediately.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? No worries at all, just give our clinic a call. Whether you need clarification on a test, help with scheduling, our team is always here to give you straightforward answers and caring guidance every step of the way.
