Show Notes
How are advanced practice providers (APPs) helping to elevate cardiovascular care? In this episode of BackTable Cardiology, Dr. Sameh Sayfo, an interventional cardiologist at Baylor Scott & White in Dallas, interviews nurse practitioner Hallie McNew about her journey from bedside ICU nursing to leading roles in cardiac surgery and structural heart practice. They discuss the unique strengths APPs bring to cardiology teams, differences between NPs and PAs, and highlight how prior nursing experience, mentorship, and structured onboarding can elevate quality of care, efficiency, and communication for cardiac patients.
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Timestamps00:00 - Introduction06:54 - APP as a Communication Bridge10:34 - Training New Cardiology APPs15:12 - Day In Structural Surgery Role17:55 - Learning Imaging And EKG Skills21:44 - Conferences and Continuing Education27:59 - Building APP Communities And Programs33:52 - Outpatient Hybrid Models And Hiring39:11 - Billing Value and Patient Trust42:03 - Handling Difficult Patient Conversations47:27 - Wrap Up and Credits
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More about this episodeThe conversation also covers best practices for orienting and mentoring new APPs, APP-led services, and the importance of learning to interpret primary data such as CT, ECHO, and EKG results. McNew shares insights on continuing education resources, including ACC subspecialty training, Mayo Clinic courses, and national meetings, plus strategies for building strong APP communities, optimizing staffing and billing models, and ways physicians and APPs can build patient trust. They also address the value of physician-APP partnerships, flexible scheduling, and the keys to creating true continuity from the hospital to the outpatient setting.
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Resources
VIVA Conference https://viva-foundation.org/
CRT Conference https://crtmeeting.org/
TCT Conference https://www.tctconference.com/
Dr. Sameh Sayfohttps://www.bswhealth.com/physician/sameh-sayfo
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BackTable Cardiology is the go-to podcast for interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other healthcare professionals that manage cardiovascular conditions.
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