My Favorite Cardiologist in Tucson, Arizona

Every year a local Tucson magazine puts out an article of the top doctors in Tucson, Arizona in all of the specific fields. As I browse through the pages of the lists of doctors, I seldom see one I have had, or currently have and I see a common denomination - a large majority of them are affiliated with our local University hospital. Each year as I browse through the list I seem to see most of the same doctors who made the list the previous year(s).

Where do they come up with the doctors who have made the list? That's a very good question, which I have often asked myself year after year. I have never seen a questionnaire that I could fill-out to express my choices. I finally saw it mentioned in the last article of top doctors that they are voted by their peers.

What is the definition of the word, 'peer?' According to the Merriam Webster website: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ its definition of a peer is: one that is of equal standing with another; one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status.

I do take into consideration a recommendation by another doctor and with insurance companies these days we need referrals from our primary doctors to be able to go to a specialist. If you ask me though, I also very much like to hear recommendations and reviews from patients who can give me their first-hand, personal experience and opinion of a doctor.

I am 54 years old and I have been to many doctors in my life - Family Practice Physicians, Internists, Cardiologists, Neurologists, Gynecologists, Obstetricians, Gastroenterologists, Surgeons, Orthopedic Doctors - to name just a few. Over the years I have compared one to another in the same fields and I have picked my favorites.

I have inherited heart disease and except for high cholesterol I have breezed past any major heart problems - up until a little over a year ago. As a result of the high cholesterol and minor possible heart concerns, I have been seeing cardiologists since I was about 15 years old. Two weeks before Christmas Day 2008, I had a very unexpected triple bypass. Since then, I have been seeing a cardiologist every 3 months.

I very highly rate Dr. Lisa M. Castellano, D.O. as a top cardiologist in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Lisa M. Castellano is one of the Southwest Heart physicians. She is one of six Southwest Heart physicians at the same location which is at: 6567 E. Carondelet Drive, Suite 225. The building she is in is the tall building right behind St. Joseph's Hospital. Southwest Heart's office telephone number is: 520-886-3432 and their toll-free number is: 877-734-8999. If you need their fax number it is: 520-886-0169. I took all of this information off of her business card which I carry with me at all times.

Why do I highly recommend Dr. Lisa M. Castellano?

During an appointment with her, Dr. Lisa Castellano is very informative. She makes me as the patient feel I have an active role in my own care and health. She patiently sits and answers every question I have and she never makes me feel as if she is in a hurry to go on to her next patient. She always gives me enough time as I need, which is until I feel confident enough to leave as a very informed patient, in control of my life, knowing what to do until my next follow-up appointment and feeling safe that I am in the best professional hands. As she answers every question I have she shows me my test results stating and describing each line. By the time I leave her office I really do feel very confident and overall, my entire visit makes me feel better. Dr. Lisa Castellano also doesn't leave the patient's room until she feels her work is fully done with that patient. She always ends each visit with, "Is there anything else (you need)?"

As Dr. Lisa Castellano speaks to me, she is extremely compassionate. She has the sweetest, soft voice. During my appointment she laughs with me and makes my appointments feel very personable. She makes me feel like she cares about me and my health as if I was one of her close relatives.

During each office visit, Dr. Lisa Castellano gives me a thorough heart-related physical examination.

Dr. Lisa Castellano prescribes medications she feels is needed, she stops and replaces those she feels aren't working anymore and she stops medications she feels are no longer needed. She also informs me, as her patient, about the reason for each medication she is prescribing, its side effects, etc.

There is never a limit to how many questions I can ask Dr. Lisa Castellano during each appointment. Before my appointment I write down my questions and with the list in my hand, I go through each question with her.

Dr. Lisa Castellano is also what some refer to as "Johnny-on-the-spot." If there is any question about what's going on with your heart that isn't visible, she immediately orders all the appropriate tests she feels is needed. Dr. Castellano chooses the non-invasive tests first, if that is an appropriate and safe choice of a test(s).

Fortunately, all of the tests, except for blood tests, can be done right there in Dr. Castellano's office and her staff is very fast in calling the patient to make an appointment for the test(s). For procedures that need to be done in a hospital, most of the time all of the information is taken during the initial office visit. The patient then only has to be notified of the time and date of the procedure, after the Southwest Heart employee makes the arrangements with a hospital worker. This whole process usually takes only 1-2 days.

Dr. Lisa Castellano also calls her patients herself, with their test results - even just for blood test results. How amazing is that? She also calls with test results very promptly - sometimes within days and the maximum time is within a week. I find that also to be amazing since my old Internist's office never called with them at all - not even his staff and he did have a large staff. Dr. Lisa Castellano will even call with test results on her day(s) off.

Southwest Heart has a large staff and an employee, or employees are assigned to each specific area. This enables the staff to quickly respond to the needs of their patients.

The entire staff at Southwest Heart is terrific. They are so nice and friendly that they make me feel like I belong and they make me feel like I am part of a family there. As soon as I walk in the office, the front desk personnel immediately talk to me, as I am signing in. They already know what I am there for and have my records ready. They always have a smile on their faces, talk personal and friendly to a patient if the patient engages in a conversation with them while waiting to be called back to a room and they are eager to answer any questions a patient may have.

In Dr. Lisa Castellano's office there is never a long wait in the waiting room, as a patient is waiting to be taken back to an examining room.

If I need to make an appointment for a specific reason, between my follow-up appointments, there is never a long wait for an appointment with Dr. Lisa Castellano. As soon as she is available in her office, Dr. Lisa Castellano is available to her patients.

If you would like to read about Dr. Lisa Castellano's educational background, learn a little about her personal life and see a picture of her, visit Southwest Heart's website at: http://swheart.com/ At that website you can also read about Southwest Heart's goals, services, world-wide research information, heart-related information, learn about the other doctors in its office and the nurse practitioners and much more.