SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Deep in the Heart of Texas: Cardiology-Hospitalist Co-Management Model

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This presentation describes a novel cardiology-hospitalist co-management model developed at Dell Medical School/Seton hospitals to improve care for telemetry patients and strengthen resident and fellow education. The model emerged from the growing success of co-managed care in improving quality metrics such as readmissions, length of stay, and adherence to evidence-based pathways, especially in cardiology where inpatient volume and outcome-driven incentives are high.<br /><br />In this hybrid structure, the inpatient cardiology medicine team includes a hospital medicine attending, internal medicine residents, intern residents, and a dedicated “teaching” cardiologist. Patients are triaged to maximize shared care, and the teams round in a geographically localized, collaborative format. The cardiologist reviews clinical and diagnostic data directly with residents and provides high-yield teaching, while the hospitalist remains the primary team, preserving each group’s strengths and scope.<br /><br />The model was designed to improve communication, standardize cardiology care, and create a more engaging educational environment. Early results suggest benefits in several areas: better adherence to heart failure protocols, more appropriate cardiology consultation, improved advance directive planning, and enhanced readmission work for heart failure patients. Education outcomes were especially notable, with residents experiencing an estimated 10-fold increase in cardiology diagnosis exposure and improved cardiology in-training exam scores.<br /><br />Stakeholders reported positive experiences with the model. Hospital medicine appreciated the collaborative structure and expanded educational support, cardiology valued the clear division of roles and improved consultation efficiency, and hospital leadership saw potential for broader service-line development and financial benefits. Residents reported greater exposure to arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, chest pain, stents, and CABG cases, while cardiology faculty described the model as effective and elegant.<br /><br />Overall, the co-management approach appears scalable and may serve as a template for future subspecialty collaborative services, such as heme/onc.

Asset Subtitle

Stewart Schaefer

Meta Tag

Author List Karen De La Garza, Sneha Vakamudi, Stewart Schaefer

Category Innovations

Concept Hospital Medicine-Cardiology Co-management Model

Concept Cardiology Inpatient Medicine Team

Concept Patient Care

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Teaching Cardiologist

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UT Dell Medical School

Presenting Author Stewart Schaefer

Track Other

Keywords

cardiology co-management

hospitalist model

telemetry patients

resident education

fellow education

heart failure protocols

readmission reduction

evidence-based pathways

interdisciplinary collaboration

Dell Medical School

Hospital Medicine-Cardiology Co-management Model

Cardiology Inpatient Medicine Team

Patient Care

Hospitalist

Teaching Cardiologist