Referring Physicians: Rush Coronary Artery Disease Care

Coronary artery disease care at Rush begins with expert evaluation and diagnosis. Our specialists rely on state-of-the-art technology, including advanced CT scans available at very few facilities across the country. These tools provide detailed images of the coronary arteries, allowing cardiologists to determine the nature and severity of blockages even in smaller blood vessels and increase the accuracy of diagnoses.

Each patient has a team of specialists, including general cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons who collaborate on care plans. They work with patients to understand their individual needs and goals and provide appropriate options that range from medical therapy and lifestyle modification programs to percutaneous interventions, minimally invasive atherectomy and surgical revascularization.

Rush is a high-volume coronary artery disease care center with comprehensive care options and quality metrics that are among the best in the country. Our thoracic surgery team has repeatedly earned a 3-star rating, the highest possible, for excellent patient outcomes in coronary bypass graft surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Our interventional cardiologists have access to new treatments, including drug-eluting stents and drug-coated balloons, cardiac support devices and clinical trials for novel care options not available elsewhere. And our cardiac rehabilitation specialists can help restore patients’ health and quality of life, even for those at high risk who’ve experienced heart failure or cardiovascular events.

Who Are Ideal Candidates for Treatment at Rush?

Our heart and vascular physicians provide diagnostic and treatment options for patients at any stage of coronary artery disease.

Many patients referred to our care have complicated anatomies and are at higher risk for standard interventions. Others have complex coronary artery disease cases, including multivessel coronary artery disease, chronic total occlusion, bifurcation blockage and in-stent restenosis. We can offer alternative care plans that address their unique needs.

We also offer specialized heart and vascular care with expertise in obstetrics for women and sports cardiology for high-level athletes.

Why Refer Patients Here?

Award-winning heart and vascular care: U.S. News & World Report includes Rush University Medical Center on its Best Hospitals Honor Roll and ranks our cardiology and heart and vascular surgery programs among the best in the nation. Rush Copley Medical Center is also recognized for providing a high standard of care for heart attack patients by the American College of Cardiology and has earned the Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the college’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry.
New treatments and clinical trials: Rush regularly participates in clinical trials for new technology and techniques for treating coronary artery disease and other heart and vascular conditions. We’re currently involved in the PROTECT IV clinical trial for the Impella heart pump for use during high-risk protected percutaneous coronary interventions. We also have clinical trials for new drug-coated balloons and intravascular ultrasound imaging tools to assess outcomes of stent implantation, among others.
Leaders in heart failure and heart attack care: For patients with coronary artery disease that leads to heart failure, Rush has the highest survival rate for heart failure patients in the United States, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For heart attacks, Rush's median "door-to-balloon" time — the time between when a person having a heart attack enters the hospital and receives the recommended emergency treatment of an angioplasty — is about 33% faster than the standard U.S. goal for medical facilities.
Expertise closer to home: In addition to the care provided at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, our physicians also see patients with coronary artery disease at our locations in Aurora, Yorkville, Oak Park and Oak Brook, Illinois, as well as Northwest Indiana, providing them with more convenient care options where they live.

What Is the Process for Referring a Patient?

If you’d like to refer your patient to Rush for coronary artery disease care, you can call our Provider Express Line at (312) 947-4725 or online through our provider referral form. You can also learn more on our Referring and Transferring Patients page.

Patients generally have their first appointment within a week of initial contact or sooner if they need urgent care.

Referring physicians can expect updates on their patients’ diagnoses and care plans via letter or through more personal communication, such as texts or calls, if preferred.