Illustrative scenarios showing how a structured Heart Team review impacts real clinical decisions — for patients, physicians, and institutions.
Patient, 67, told they need CABG after PCI failure. Wants independent confirmation before undergoing major surgery.
Heart Team confirmed surgical indication — but identified a hybrid approach (MIDCAB + PCI) as the superior option for this coronary anatomy. Recovery reduced from 8 weeks to 3.
Patient, 78, severe aortic stenosis. Referred for open SAVR at community hospital without a TAVR program.
Spectra risk analysis: STS predicted mortality 8.2% for SAVR. Sentinel identified a TAVR-capable center 40 miles away with program mortality below 1.5%. Patient underwent TAVR, discharged in 2 days.
Patient, 55, severe mitral regurgitation. Surgeon A recommends repair. Surgeon B recommends replacement. Patient paralyzed by conflicting opinions.
Imaging analysis confirmed posterior leaflet prolapse with preserved annular geometry — ideal repair anatomy. Heart Team: repair with high confidence. Sentinel matched to surgeon with >95% repair rate for this pathology.
Family member. Father, 71, needs redo aortic valve replacement 12 years after initial SAVR. Family terrified of reoperation.
Redo-specific risk calculated factoring prior sternotomy, patent grafts, and adhesion risk. Alternative access identified (right anterior thoracotomy) to avoid sternal re-entry. Matched to high-volume redo surgeon with outcomes 40% below STS predicted mortality.
Cardiologist at community hospital. Patient with combined aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and three-vessel CAD. Needs documented Heart Team input.
Full Heart Team review with 4 treatment strategies mapped. White Glove Insights™ Report documented optimal sequencing (surgical AVR + mitral repair + CABG, single operation). Report entered patient chart as formal consultation note.
Rural internist. Patient, 62, with worsening angina and known 3-vessel CAD. Geographic barriers to specialist access.
Complete Heart Team review conducted remotely. Risk stratification confirmed surgical candidacy. Sentinel matched to center with 2-star STS rating within 90-minute medevac range. Coordinated transfer with pre-operative workup already completed.
Hospital CMO. 400-bed community hospital performing 200 cardiac surgeries per year without a formalized Heart Team process.
Wing 3 pilot deployed. WhiteGloveMD provides structured opinions for complex cases, reports flow into Epic. Within 6 months: 23% reduction in unnecessary surgical referrals, 15% improvement in outcomes tracking, and documented compliance with ACC/AHA Heart Team guidelines.
Every review is conducted by a cardiovascular surgeon and interventional cardiologist. 24 hours. Comprehensive. Definitive.