5 Questions to Ask Your Cardiologist

It's worrying when you or a loved one needs heart surgery. Being prepared for what's ahead will leave you much more reassured. Here are some of the main questions you'll want your cardiologist to answer.

How long will I have to wait for my treatment?

Once you've been diagnosed with a condition that needs hospital treatment, you'll probably want to get it over with as soon as possible. A heart stenting procedure usually takes 2 days in Mount Elizabeth Hospitals.

How much will it cost?

You'll want to know exactly what costs your heart procedure and hospital stay will incur so you can arrange to claim from your Medisave, MediShield and/or your Integrated Shield Plan or private health insurance. Mount Elizabeth Hospital provides transparent costs for your procedure, with complete packages to make budgeting simpler. Find out how much you'll need with our procedure cost tables.

How many heart procedures have you carried out, and do you have access to the latest technology?

Singapore has an enviable reputation worldwide for its health services. Mount Elizabeth Hospitals' cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons have qualified either locally here in Singapore or at other prestigious global institutions and have a wealth of experience. Between them, they can treat a whole range of coronary heart diseases. You can easily check each cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon's qualifications and experience on Mount Elizabeth Hospitals' website.

Equally importantly, Mount Elizabeth Hospitals offer modern surroundings with up-to-date technology. This usually means that your stay in hospital – and your recovery time – should be a lot shorter.

How long will I have to stay in hospital, and how long will it take me to fully recover?

Maybe not as long as you think. After a coronary angiogram you may be able to go home on the same day, or you may be advised to stay overnight for a longer rest. For a stent procedure at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, you can expect to stay overnight. After a stent procedure, you'll need to take it easy for a week – not lift anything heavy or driving – but should be back to normal soon after that. For coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a heart bypass operation, you can expect to stay in hospital for a week and your recovery time will take about 6 – 9 months.

What facilities does the hospital have for patients?

The in-room patient guide for Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital gives a comprehensive list that ranges from its medical facilities, to important information for patient comfort and reassurance, such as the nurse call bell, air-con control system, lighting switch and visiting hours.

In addition, there are features that are more like a hotel stay, such as a room safe, TV, Internet access, newspapers, laundry services – and even mini-bar services! The guide also includes information on a typical day under the hospital regime, plus the procedure for your discharge, which will take about 2 hours.

Find out some of the medical procedures available should you need to undergo heart treatment. With the correct insurance coverage, your bill size can be better gauged and managed, while Mount Elizabeth Hospitals can assist with all Medisave, MediShield (which has been changed to MediShield Life since the end of 2015) and Integrated Shield Plan claims.

For your peace of mind, talk to one of our heart specialists today or read about how to make healthcare insurance claims to cover your hospital bills.