Services

The offices of Drs. Caren and Urman offer comprehensive non-invasive diagnostic cardiovascular services for our patients. This includes consultation with one of our cardiologists as well as an ongoing evaluation and management of cardiovascular problems. We believe that prevention of heart disease offers the best outcome, and we offer services designed to promote primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.





Cardiology Consultation

A cardiology consultation is usually requested by your general internist, family doctor or sometimes another specialist or surgeon when he or she wishes to have a cardiac specialist (cardiologist) use his or her expertise to evaluate you. This might be one of many reasons from concern over a known or possible serious cardiac problem to a more general evaluation. It might also include situations where you, your personal physician or your regular cardiologist wish you to have a confirmatory or second opinion. Dr. Caren and Urman start by speaking to you and examining you, reviewing any pertinent records available and possibly doing further diagnostic testing.

  • Click here to learn about the role of a General Cardiologist in Heart Disease Treatment
  • Click here for a list of the more commonly treated conditions that our cardiologists evaluate and treat.

For more information on “What is a cardiologist?”, Click here





Preventive Cardiac Evaluation

– Cardiac Risk Factor Evaluation and Treatment

This is a thorough evaluation starting with an interview and physical exam to determine if further testing (lab work or other diagnostic testing) is indicated to reduce the odds of cardiac events or disease in the future. This can be “primary prevention” (no known history of heart disease but perhaps risk factors warranting concern such as family history of heart disease) or “secondary prevention” in someone with a known history of heart disease or problems.

We believe that the most effective preventive strategy in reducing the risk of heart disease is an integrative approach. This includes all the best in conventional medical care (including prescription medication and procedures as indicated), combined with maximizing the impact from natural strategies such as healthy lifestyle (including exercise and diet). Drs. Caren and Urman use the latest innovations in heart care to treat their patients and emphasize a heart-healthy lifestyle and turn to medication when absolutely necessary.

The superior doctor prevents sickness; The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness; The inferior doctor treats actual sickness — Ancient Chinese Proverb

Treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease has come a long way in the last several decades and continues to evolve and improve. New technologies and medications make it possible to not only catch diseases sooner, with less invasive treatments, but also help patients previously considered to be untreatable. Studies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular death can be reduced by more than 75% by following a healthy diet, partaking in regular physical activity, not smoking, and keeping hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes under control.

Our office is equipped with the newest technology allowing us to assess how healthy your arteries are. Rather than just treating your cholesterol or treating a “number,” we can assess whether your arteries have the beginning of disease so we can directly treat your arteries to keep them healthy. Click here to learn about a 5-minute, non-invasive and painless test our office offers to help tell if you are at risk for a heart attack or plaque in your arteries.

 For more information on preventive cardiology, Click here

<< Click to the left to calculate your Heart Disease Risk (NOTE: This tool is only useful for assessing the risk of suffering a heart attack or dying due to coronary disease for people who do not already have heart disease and have not been diagnosed with diabetes)

“The doctor of the future will prescribe no drugs but will interest his patients in the care and nutrition of the human frame and in the cause and prevention of disease.“ – Thomas Edison (1847-1931)




Second Opinions

Often having an independent and thorough second opinion of your condition or diagnosis can be extremely helpful. Patients with an established local cardiologist can make an appointment with one of our cardiologists on a case-by-case basis for a second opinion. Patients should never hesitate in getting a second opinion if they have any doubt about a physicians recommendations regarding surgery, a procedure or even a new medication or treatment plan. Certainly, one should not worry about “insulting” their doctor as often another specialist will often confirm the first opinion which increases the patient’s confidence in their original doctor’s recommendations. Even if our cardiologists are in general agreement with the basic recommendations of the first cardiologists, they often will have additional important reocmmendations that can be immensely helpful to the patient. However, our locally and nationally recognized top cardiologists have a reputation for wise and judicious clinical abilities that can result in different diagnosis or treatments that can even be life-saving.

If you have had prior testing and evaluation, it is important that you have your records forwarded to us or bring a full set with you. We will provide you with the mosst up-to-date treatment options, review your prior caridac testing and help guide you as to what your best options are. If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition it is essential to consider all appropriate options and alternatives. If we feel further testing is indicated, we will advise you. Whether you are not feeling confident about your prior doctor’s opinion or style of practice, whether you feel rushed with your first doctor, whether you have doubts about whether you were recommended to be on the right medicine or have the right procedure or how your diagnosis or condition could affect your life, seeking a second opinion from an experienced and well respected cardiologist can have a tremendously positive impact on your health.

Click here to see Dr. Urman quoted in the Wall Street Journal about the importance of medical second opinions.


 Make the right choice for the most important partner for you and your health. Help ensure an established relationship with a doctor that knows you personally and has connections to the best specialists available. Having an experienced, caring, and accessible cardiologist is an invaluable asset when one has known underlying health issues, cardiac risk factors, or if unexpected health challenges arise.

 

Enhanced Access Membership Program (EAMP)

We believe that the patient-physician relationship is the true core of good medical care. Medical care is best practiced by having enough time to listen to patients and truly understand their particular health needs. Health Care Reform marches on with uncertainty for patients and physicians alike, yet one thing is certain – Drs. Caren and Urman remain dedicated to providing our patients with personalized, comprehensive and world-class cardiac care. Drastic changes in payment policies by Medicare and insurance companies have forced us to change our practice model in order to meet the needs of our patient in these challenging times for medical care. Our EAMP remains quite popular with our patients to help maximize their experience with our office and physicians, allowing high-quality accessibility and personalized service.

  • Personalized concierge services not covered by private insurance or Medicare.
  • Several annual membership options to choose from (Basic, Select, Premier and Concierge Plans with CORVitae Elite options for appropriate patients). Patients choose what works best for them.
  • Increasing levels of priority and enhanced access for routine appointments and testing
  • Increased phone and email access to our staff and doctors on routine matters
  • Priority completion of administrative paper-work with fees waived
  • MedJetAssist critical care air rescue and evacuation coverage (included for all eligible Concierge levels and Premier CORVitae Elite members)
  • Discounts on upgrade to GlobalMedAssist Program coverage (for Concierge level members – critical care air rescue and evacuation anywhere in the world with the backing and coordination of your cardiologist and the Cleveland Clinic)
  • Discounts of Sollis Health memberships (higher level EAMP plans get larger discounts)
  • COR Vitae upgrade options for patients who wish to count on our cardiologists to also act as an advocate for them on non-cardiac medical issues
  • Validated parking (Premier and Concierge members) and convenient VIP parking (Concierge members) for office visits.

 Drs. Caren, Nayeri and Urman believe that patients should be fully empowered. While our cardiologists help ensure this by sharing information completely and building a partnership with their patients, our EAMP helps take this partnership to a higher level. We believe each patient is unique and therefore requires a specific care plan tailored to their individual needs. Drs. Caren, Nayeri and Urman use the latest innovations in heart care to treat their patients and emphasize a heart-healthy lifestyle. Having enhanced access to the expertise of our cardiologists can allow a higher level of personalized cardiac health, reassurance and comfort.

If you wish to read more and understand why you should consider concierge-type care with one of our cardiologists, click here.

If you are interested in our EAMP, please contact our Patient Services Coordinator Mickey Tescum at 310.659.0714 for more information.

“It’s far more important to know what person has the disease than what disease the person has.“ – attributed to Hippocrates, the father of Western Medicine.


 

Testing

For a list and description of all cardiac testing provided in our offices, please click here.


 

 



Virtual Visits (Telemedicine or Telehealth)

Telemedicine can never entirely replace a doctor being in the same room as a patient for many situations. A virtual visit is clearly not as ideal as a traditional in-person visit with a new patient and yet during a virtual visit the doctor and patient can see each other’s faces as opposed to seeing a masked face when being seen during a pandemic. And if a new patient needs to have a cardiac evaluation by a cardiologist and an in-person visit is not possible or practical, then a virtual visit certainly is better than nothing.

Click here to read more about virtual visits and how you can arrange for one. During the COVID-19 crisis, we are offering virtual visits to new patients on a very limited and case-by-case basis. Please call our office if your have any questions.

 

 

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310.659.0715


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Los Angeles, CA