Cardiac Direct Access
Expert cardiac evaluation, right when you need it
Cardiac Urgent Care
The Cardiac Direct Access Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides you with immediate access to cardiologists. If you have symptoms that aren't life-threatening — but you need prompt heart care — ask your primary care doctor for a referral to Cardiac Direct Access, or CDAc (proununced “see-dak”). Coming to the CDAc unit for your heart care helps you avoid emergency department or urgent care wait times and related expenses. Cardiac Direct Access is a referral-only service. Contact your doctor for more information.
About the Cardiac Direct Access Unit
The Cardiac Direct Access (CDAc) unit operates 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. A cardiologist staffs CDAc every day from 8 am to 10 pm. Around the clock every day, experienced advanced practice providers and clinical nurses staff the unit. This expertise and the capacity for overnight observation mean it is less likely you will end up in the hospital for an inpatient stay.
The facility includes these features:
- Patient exam rooms
- Overnight observation rooms
- Testing equipment
- Telehealth facility
- Outpatient diuresis room
CDAc Benefits Patients & Providers
Since 2016, over 6,600 patients have received care through the CDAc, facilitated by a team of over 20 physicians and advanced practice providers. Overall, 69% percent of patients who were evaluated in the CDAc are discharged directly from their visit, emphasizing the unit’s ability to provide comprehensive care swiftly and effectively.
Furthermore, by having CDAc services available, space is freed up in the emergency department for patients with life-threatening conditions like trauma and acute stroke. Our rates of admission are much lower than national averages for these acute cardiac conditions and for congestive heart failure.
In addition to streamlined cardiac care, the CDAc provides patients with a significant savings of time and money. Patients are billed for CDAc visits just as they would be for a visit to the Outpatient Clinic, eliminating a co-pay for a potentially expensive emergency room visit. Many patients are able to avoid the long wait times and stress of a trip to the emergency room.
Insurance Coverage
Most insurance carriers cover CDAc care. Please note that if you need overnight observation, your insurer will consider this an outpatient visit. Therefore, coinsurance and copayments will apply. Speak with your insurance company to get details on your coverage.
Required Doctor Referral
You must have a doctor referral for each CDAc visit. This ensures you'll get your care in the area of the hospital that is best equipped to meet your immediate needs.
If you are having worrisome heart symptoms, call your primary care doctor or community-based cardiologist. If your doctor thinks you are having a heart attack, they will advise you to call 911 and go directly to the Emergency Department. If this is not a concern, they will refer you to the CDAc.
More About CDAc
The CDAc unit offers comprehensive testing services to help the cardiologist diagnose your condition and begin to develop your treatment plan. You will receive same-day evaluation by a cardiologist.
Depending on your needs, you may need these services:
- Heart diagnostic imaging, including echocardiogram
- Lab tests, such as a blood test
We offer you these and other treatments:
- Direct transfers to the inpatient cardiology service if needed, bypassing the emergency department
- Diuresis (scheduled and urgent)
- Overnight observation
- Professional telehealth consultations
Overnight Observation
During observation, you’ll be in a hospital bed. Providers will treat you throughout the night and watch for progress. This gives us the information we need to decide whether you should be admitted to the hospital or can return home safely.
Professional Telehealth Consults
We offer cardiology telehealth services to other health care providers. We regularly consult with teams from these locations:
- Urgent care centers
- Emergency departments
- Doctors' offices
During these consults, we gather details about the person’s health situation and provide guidance on whether we believe that person is likely to benefit from a referral to BIDMC. Providing these consults helps your community-based care teams get you timely access to the heart care you need — when you need it.
You may bring one family member or friend with you. This person must check in at the information desk and wear a mask. Please note that space is limited. We do not have non-patient beds for a family member or other caregiver to stay overnight.
We've designed the unit to provide you with expert assessment right after you arrive. You’ll have little-to-no waiting time and no triage process. Our clinicians will see you right away, communicate with your doctor and provide treatment as appropriate.
The length of time you'll need to stay in the Cardiac Direct Access (CDAc) unit depends on a number of factors. In some cases, we evaluate, treat and release people the same day. If you stay for overnight observation, you’ll either go home the following day or we&'ll admit you to an inpatient hospital room. Most people are in CDAc for 24 hours or less.
Areas of the Cardiac Direct Access Unit
The cardiac direct access clinic includes exam rooms where cardiologists and cardiac nurse practitioners test, evaluate and treat you. This area also houses our advanced heart failure clinic. There, people with heart failure receive timely, expert cardiac assessment.
Our observation rooms allow cardiologists and cardiac nurse practitioners to monitor, test and treat you overnight. Oftentimes, overnight observation can help avoid the need for hospital admission.
Our diuresis room provides heart failure patients with same-day outpatient intravenous (IV) therapy. We offer scheduled sessions and access to urgent slots Monday through Friday.
Advancing Care, Research & Education
CardioVascular Institute
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Cardiovascular Research
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Cardiovascular Education
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