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Heart doctors--or cardiologists--diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, heart doctors work in small private offices, clinics, community or teaching hospitals, medical schools and large group practices. In addition to core duties that all heart doctors perform, some duties vary based on work setting.
Examines Patients
Cardiologists examine patients and perform a complete medical history in order to diagnose heart disease, according to the Texas Heart Institute (THI). Heart doctors also question patients about symptoms and use medical instruments or equipment to perform the examination.
Interprets Tests
CareerPlanner reports that heart doctors study the results of tests performed by other staff--such as nurses or echocardiogram technologists-- as well as interpret test results to determine a diagnosis.
Prescribes Treatment
THI notes that after determining a diagnosis, heart doctors prescribe treatment---drugs or preventive actions, such as changes to the patient's diet or an exercise regimen---to cure or manage the disease.
Refers Patients
For patients with problems requiring more specialized expertise, cardiologists refer patients to heart surgeons, who use surgical techniques and equipment to treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Performs Research
Heart doctors regularly research published clinical studies to solve problems they encounter in their patients. According to CareerPlanner, some cardiologists perform clinical research to study diseases of the heart and discover new treatments.
Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physicians and Surgeons
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