Cardiovascular Surgery Telemedicine Appointments

A Message from Dr. David H. Adams

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the medical community with a unique set of challenges. We are now using the latest telehealth technology to meet with current and prospective patients via video visits, whenever possible.

We have also resumed all cardiac surgeries, with additional precautions to ensure we maintain our stellar safety record and continue delivering superior patient outcomes. With these goals in mind, every surgical patient will be tested for COVID-19 upon admission to The Mount Sinai Hospital, to ensure the safety of all patients and staff. The hospital has also implemented social distancing rules, a modified visitor policy, universal masking, mandatory hand hygiene for visitors, as well as single-room Cardiac ICU care for your privacy and safety after surgery.

To schedule a video visit with our medical team, please call 212-659-6800.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cardiovascular surgeons participate in video visits?
The following physicians in The Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Cardiovascular Surgery are available to meet with patients and prospective patients via video visits.

Please call 212-659-6800 to book an appointment:

My cardiologist says I should see a specialist about heart surgery. Can I still speak with a surgeon at Mount Sinai, despite the ongoing pandemic?
Yes. We are currently conducting video visits through the MyMountSinai smartphone app, and look forward to talking with you about your case. These video visits enable us to thoroughly review your medical records and all your medical imaging studies, together. As always, we remain are committed to collaborating with you to make the most informed decisions possible about your health care options.

Is Mount Sinai still performing heart surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes. As the COVID-19 pandemic will likely persist for some time, we have implemented additional precautions and procedures to ensure we maintain our stellar safety record, and to continue delivering superior patient outcomes. Please call us at 212-659-6800 to schedule a video visit to discuss your individual case with our team. 

I was scheduled for heart surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic. Will it still proceed?
We have been actively reaching out to patients whose procedures have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients are being rescheduled based on their original surgical date, with priority given to those with urgent conditions. If your procedure has been postponed and you have any new symptoms or concerns about the urgency of your case, please call us at 212-659-6800 to speak with our team.

What technology is required for a video visit with Dr. Adams?
Patients who make appointments for a video visit with our surgeons will first need to download the MyMountSinai app onto their phone or tablet; the app, which works on both Android and iOS, is available on the Google Play and iTunes store. If you do not have one of these devices or encounter technical difficulties, please contact our office staff at 212-659-6800. Please note: this appointment cannot be conducted using a laptop or desktop computer.

Where can I find instructions for using MyMountSinai to conduct a video visit?
For step-by-step instructions on using MyMountSinai for a video visit, please see our Telemedicine Patient Guide and our Patient Checklist.

Is my healthcare information safe while participating in video visits?
Mount Sinai uses encrypted, HIPAA-compliant technology to protect your privacy and safeguard your data during all online interactions. In addition, no one will be in the room except your healthcare team. Your video visit will not be recorded nor will your conversation be heard by anyone but the team. You can discuss your health in total candor and confidentiality.

What extra precautions are being taken during this pandemic?
Our surgical teams always adhere to the highest standards of safety, regardless of external conditions. Given the current pandemic, however, we have implemented especially stringent precautions to safeguard our patients and staff. In addition to offering prospective patients consultation via video visits, every surgical patient will be tested for COVID-19 upon admission to The Mount Sinai Hospital. The hospital has also implemented social distancing rules, a modified visitor policy, universal masking, mandatory hand hygiene for visitors, as well as single-room Cardiac ICU care for your privacy and safety after surgery.

Before You Arrive

Phone Screening: We will call you prior to your visit to ask if you have (or have had) any COVID-19 symptoms, such as:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chills, or shaking with chills
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat

Mandatory Masking: All patients and staff are required to wear a mask or face covering. We will provide you with a mask, if needed.

Visitor Policy Pilot: We recognize that separation of patients from their loved ones during a hospital stay may cause stress and anxiety for patients and their families. That’s why The Mount Sinai Hospital is proud to partner with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) in a pilot program to expand visitation to our patients during this pandemic.

The full policy can be viewed here.

  • All visitors must be above 18 years of age; any exception will be determined by the hospital
  • Visitors will be directed for a symptom and temperature check upon entry and shall be denied entry if they report significant COVID-19 exposure or symptoms during the prior 14 days, or have a temperature greater than or equal to >100oF or 37.8o C 
  • Visitors are provided with and must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; PPE will be provided to visitors, and staff will direct visitors in the appropriate use of the PPE for that specific patient
  • All visitation will be limited to a total of four hours per day per patient, unless otherwise authorized by the Department of Health, depending on the patient’s status and condition
  • Visitors will be given a visitor identification sticker that specifies the date of the visit and indicates that the visitor has passed the symptom and temperature screen;
  • Clinical staff will advise visitors on how to perform meticulous hand hygiene and reinforce the appropriate way to wear and remove PPE
  • Visitors will be limited to one person per patient at a time. A limited number of additional persons will be permitted only when appropriate, and at the discretion of the hospital
  • Once in the facility, visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit except when directed by hospital staff to leave for medical procedure
  • Health care providers will thoroughly discuss the potential risks and benefits of the visitor’s presence with the visitor and, depending upon the patient’s condition, the patient
  • To protect patients and staff, visitors who fail to adhere to any of the above procedures will be asked to leave the hospital

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Upon admission, patients will be taken directly to the Cardiac ICU. This unit provides individual rooms for each patient and a dedicated team of intensivists and cardiac care nurses who specialize in caring for heart surgery patients. After surgery, the patient will recover here for approximately 24 hours, before moving to our cardiac step-down unit.

During Your Visit

Separation from COVID-19 Patients: Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 are strictly isolated from others.

Social Distancing: We’re minimizing contact between patients by spacing furniture, minimizing the number of patients in waiting areas, and scheduling more time between appointments. We are monitoring the number of patients in elevators. You will also see visual aids of our elevator safety guidelines. We also encourage the guidelines for social distancing, which is to keep six feet between people.

Continuous Cleaning: All areas are continuously disinfected, including waiting rooms, patient rooms, and high-touch surfaces. To learn more about deep cleaning protocols at The Mount Sinai Hospital, watch this video: https://youtu.be/fzLmaqqWjlI

Learn more about our overall precautions to keep you safe.

If I have questions about heart surgery at Mount Sinai, who should I call?
If you have any questions about heart surgery at Mount Sinai, call 212-659-6800 to speak with a member of our medical team. For current or prospective patients, we are still scheduling video visits and look forward to talking with you about your case. These video visits enable us to review your medical records remotely and review all your imaging studies, together. As always, we remain committed to collaborating with you to make the most informed decisions possible about your health care options.

I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled at Mount Sinai. Should I still come in?
Given new safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, do not come to Mount Sinai for an appointment without explicit prior authorization from our team. If you have an appointment already scheduled, call 212-659-6800 and speak with one of our representatives for up-to-date guidance.

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