Cedars Sinai Women’s Heart Center

I’m so happy that I changed health care providers. The team at the heart center are consummate professionals, they communicate with my regular physician, and with one another. Most importantly, they listen to my concerns, and answer my questions in a way that i can understand, but with zero condescension.
As you’d expect, a typical visit includes a visit with one of the young residents, who then reviews the conversation with the cardiologist. Though some might be put off by the teaching element of this medical practice, I’ve been satisfied with it.
The only downside is that my cardiologist is in the clinic only one day per week, though I’ve been assured that I’ll see another member of the clinical team if I ever have an urgent need to visit.
Best place to park: Lot 4, because it is adjacent to the building. Parking is $ 5 with validation.

I booked well in advance so that I could be assigned to a female cardiologist. As a nurse, I am aware that the hormones in a woman’s body means that most parts of our bodies are affected a little differently than our male counterparts. I waited a few weeks to get Dr. Yu Xie and was not disappointed. I had a laundry list of questions for her as I have hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Dr. Xie listened carefully, ordered an EKG in the office and went over about five or so of the most advanced diagnostics available. We discussed the advantages of each (from treadmills to full body scans and a few new things in between) and I was able to decide with her recommendations, which one would give me the most peace-​of-​mind. Mind you, nothing out of the ordinary showed up on the EKG and there was nothing to suggest that I had much of a risk factor, but at 56 I want to know as much as possible. The procedure I will be getting is not covered by my PPO, so she called the diagnostic center to find out how much it would cost me out of pocket to know with accuracy if I am susceptible to a cardiac event in the next ten years ($ 180). I am very, very happy to be a new patient of the Women’s Heart Center at Cedars and delighted with my new doctor.

Although Cedars-​Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles is known for providing good medical care, the medical services of its relatively new Women’s Heart Center have not yet risen to the level of Cedars-​Sinai itself. Although the Women’s Heart Center provides patient care, the main focus of the Center is not patient care. Instead, the Women’s Heart Center focuses on teaching and research. Although the staff of the Women’s Heart Center includes some heart specialists, patients who visit the Center are often NOT treated by these specialists. Instead, patients are often seen by and treated by relatively inexperienced physicians who are participating in training programs. In medicine, as in most fields, professional experience is invaluable. Medical evaluation and treatment provided by inexperienced physicians in training programs cannot possibly reach the level of medical treatment provided by seasoned and experienced medical specialists who possess a wealth of knowledge gained over a period of years.