What a cardiology review usually focuses on

Heart attack, testing, monitoring, and referral. A case review should reconstruct the sequence of symptom assessment, ECG and biomarkers, imaging, monitoring, and intervention or referral from the records available at each decision point.

Five decision points to map

  • 1. Symptom assessment
  • 2. Ecg and biomarkers
  • 3. Imaging
  • 4. Monitoring
  • 5. Intervention or referral

Records that can answer those questions

  • Cardiology consultation, procedure, or encounter notes
  • Orders and test results used to make the clinical decision
  • Medication, monitoring, procedure, or nursing records tied to the event
  • Communication with the patient and other specialties
  • Later treatment showing the complication, corrected diagnosis, or outcome

Expert and causation questions

  • What training and specialty should the reviewing cardiology expert have under state law?
  • Which of the key decision points in heart attack, testing, monitoring, and referral is actually being challenged?
  • What information was available at that time, not only in hindsight?
  • What part of the later harm is attributable to the underlying illness or known risk?
  • Would a different medical decision probably have changed treatment or outcome?

Related specialties

Dentistry Malpractice GuideDentistry malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Gynecology Malpractice GuideGynecology malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Neurology Malpractice GuideNeurology malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Nursing Malpractice GuideNursing malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.

Use licensing, records, and medical-information sources appropriate to the specialty.