The Duke Heart Center offers every patient a complete care team, whose aim is to provide comprehensive, seamless care.

A care team typically includes a physician, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, and a nurse clinician.

Cardiac nurse Joel Valente, RN, cares for a Duke Heart Center patient.

Each visit to the Duke Heart Center is designed to meet the patient’s custom care needs.  Based on your care plan, your visit may include your physician or your NP/PA -- and sometimes both.

This team approach to care is designed to provide access to not just one, but two well-trained cardiology providers with a clear understanding of your individual care plan.

Our nurse clinicians and cardiology providers work together to coordinate the care inside and outside the clinic. Your nurse clinician may assist you with coordinating any additional studies, tests or procedures that might be needed and provide you with any additional instructions. Your nurse clinician will also work with the Heart Center Triage team to respond to any telephone concerns.

Working with a Duke Heart Center care team means having the ability to schedule an appointment when you need it. It also means receiving the high standard of care that Duke is known for while spending less time in the clinic.

Our goal is to provide each patient with a complete understanding of their condition and treatment options, and the confidence to know that there is a team of experts focused on their care.