Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic

The Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic provides a quick and early cardiology assessment for patients with chest pain who:

  • are not having an active cardiac condition
  • have no known ischemic heart disease and worsening symptoms, and
  • need urgent assessment

Clinics currently run weekday mornings at the Marshall Cardiology office in Huntington. This is a physician and advanced provider-led, one-stop clinic, which enables a rapid and definitive assessment of symptoms and investigations of symptoms and results in the initiation of treatment or the swift reassurance of patients without clear cardiac pathology.

Following an evaluation at an emergency room (ER) or urgent care center, your provider may recommend that you be seen in our Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic. Patients should arrive at 8 a.m.--no earlier than 7:45 a.m. and no later than 8:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday only. No appointments are needed, patients are seen in order of arrival.

This clinic is a fast route of entry into cardiology services for patients with suspected ischemic heart disease. It allows quick access to appropriate treatment, either medication, testing or invasive procedures and to all-important advice on risk factor modification and prevention and to rehabilitation services.

Patients with suspected myocardial infarction (MI) or acute coronary syndromes should call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency department. This clinic is only for patients for whom MI has been ruled out.

The aim of the service is to offer a rapid assessment of the possible cause of your chest pain. Chest pain sometimes comes from the heart. You have been referred to the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic because your doctor thinks your chest pain may be related to your heart and would like the opinion of a doctor who specializes in heart disease, known as a cardiologist.

On the day of your appointment

Patients should arrive at 8 a.m.--no earlier than 7:45 a.m. and no later than 8:30 a.m.

Please bring your insurance information and the discharge papers from the emergency department. Please bring a current list of medicines and supplements that you are taking.

When you sign in, you will be given a medical history form, please fill it out completely.

If appropriate, you may need to have one or more of the following tests or be given an appointment for them. **Most testing requires preauthorization from insurance companies, so it is likely that your test will not occur the same day. Our staff will work directly with your insurance to complete the preauthorization process.**  

  • Blood tests or X-rays
  • An exercise ECG test which involves walking on a treadmill at increasing speed while your pulse, blood pressure and heart trace are monitored by a cardiac technician. This will be scheduled for within the next week. For that appointment, please wear loose clothing, with an easily removable top and trainers or flat shoes--no high heels or sling-back shoes.
  • CT calcium scoring (a very short CT scan x-ray)
  • CT coronary angiogram (an outpatient X- ray of the arteries of the heart)
  • Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
  • Stress echocardiogram (a specialized heart ultrasound during exercise )
  • Myocardial perfusion scan ( a special heart muscle X ray – out patient test)
  • Heart monitor (a heart rhythm recording you take a small recording box home)
  • Coronary angiogram ( see separate info sheet- an inpatient X-ray of the heart arteries)

How will I get my results?

Before you leave the appointment, a follow-up will be scheduled with one of our providers. You may receive a call about your results before this appointment.

At the follow-up appointment, you will be given results of any testing performed and further plans for care will be initiated, if required. A letter will be sent to you and your doctor containing all the information from your visit--what has been done, your diagnosis (if known) and plans for future care. 

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Carlos Rueda, MD

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Ellen A. Thompson, MD

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Heather Aulick, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

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Gina Lathey, FNP-BC

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Locations:

Marshall Cardiology - Huntington

A provider-based department of Cabell Huntington Hospital
Erma Ora Byrd Clinical Center
1249 15th Street
Fourth Floor
Huntington, WV 25701
Phone: 304.691.8500

Map & Directions

Appointments

The Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic sees patients Monday-Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. in order of arrival. A referral from an ER, urgent care center or primary care provider is preferred. For more information, call Marshall Cardiology at 304-691-8500.