Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease
Part of Cardiovascular Health
Leaders in Genetic Heart Disease Treatment
We help you live safely and well if heart disease runs in your family. Our pioneering approach to care ensures you and your loved ones receive thorough evaluations, personalized recommendations, and complete support.
300 Pasteur Drive
Heart Clinic 1, Clinic A21
Stanford,
CA
94305
Phone: 650-736-7878
What We Offer You for Hereditary Heart Disease Care
- Internationally recognized expertise in cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, aortic disorders, elevated lipids, and other genetic disease. Go to Conditions Treated
- Sophisticated evaluation and treatment, with genetic counseling and testing, the latest drugs and devices, and specialized procedures. Go to Evaluation and Treatment
- Coordinated care with Stanford Children's Health to ensure a smooth transition to our adult program. Go to Transition from Pediatric Care
- Promising clinical trials and research, to continue identifying the genes behind inherited disease and offer emerging therapies. Go to Clinical Trials
- Highly specialized doctors, including cardiologists, cardiac electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, and cardio thoracic surgeons. Go to Your Doctors
- Unique team-based approach, bringing together genetic counselors, cardiovascular nurses, and care coordinators. Go to Extended Care Team
- Comprehensive support, with tailored plans from dietitians, family planning with OB/GYNs, and counseling by heart-focused psychologists. Go to Support Services
- Ease of access, with phone appointments and digital monitors that record your activity and heart rate. Go to Accessing Care
We are one of the world’s few centers focused on genetic disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Some of these conditions are rarely encountered by most cardiology programs, while others are more common but often missed without specialized care. We see more than 350 new cases per year, giving us extensive experience.
Inherited or hereditary conditions often require earlier intervention than other cardiovascular disease. Our team provides the coordinated expertise you and your family need for these complicated conditions. We recognize their early and subtle signs.
The inherited conditions we treat include:
- Arrhythmias
- Cardiomyopathies
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC)
- Familial ATTR amyloidosis (in partnership with the Amyloid Center)
- Neuromuscular related cardiomyopathy (in partnership with Stanford’s Neuromuscular Program)
- Aortic disease
We were the first center in the world to bring specialized heart genetics experts together in one place, for all the care you need
Without proper management, genetic heart diseases can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, or early heart attack. Our medical team ensures you receive the latest, most appropriate approaches, with a range of treatments to help you live life to the fullest. We also offer inpatient care and effective options for more serious conditions.
Learn more about genetic testing, counseling, and evaluation for heart disease »
INNOVATION HIGHLIGHTS
Genetic changes in heart disease: Our medical team and other researchers at Stanford continue to identify more genetic mutations, or differences, that cause heart disease. Our center has pioneered the use of whole genome sequencing, not yet common practice but likely the future of care. Our genetic counselors research and speak nationally about more accurate genetic test interpretation.
Treatments
Evaluation & Genetic Counseling
Your treatment planning begins with a comprehensive evaluation to gain a detailed view of your heart health. We use specialized imaging and take a deep look at your personal and family medical histories. We also offer expert genetic counseling. Test results can confirm a diagnosis, potentially guide treatment, identify other affected family members, and help with family planning. Learn more about our evaluation and genetic counseling services >>
Transition from Pediatric Care
Our partners at Stanford Children’s Health care for children with genetic heart disease until age 18. Our two programs work together to ensure a smooth transition to our adult program when the time comes.
Risk Management and Treatment
Some people with genetic heart disease just need annual checkups and tests. But many require additional care. We tailor our recommendations and help you make informed decisions, while respecting your choices. Treatments include:
Medical management
- Help with diet and exercise
- Medications
Devices
Minimally invasive procedures
Surgery
- Heart valve repair or replacement, including valve-sparing aortic root replacement
- Aortic surgery
- Myectomy
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- Heart transplant
Treatment by Condition
We treat a full range of hereditary heart and blood vessel diseases:
- Arrhythmias
- Aortic disease
- Muscular dystrophy (in partnership with Stanford’s Neuromuscular Program)
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials for inherited heart disease often test new medications. When appropriate, these studies may provide you with a chance to try the latest approaches.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Your Genetic Heart Disease Care Team
Our team approach means you can receive a diagnosis, cardiology care, and genetic testing and counseling in one visit. But it also improves your care. Rather than rely only on written reports, our team members work directly with you and each other to make recommendations. We also review complex cases in weekly meetings. We try to have the same team members see you each visit.
Your Doctors
Cardiologist
Our cardiologists focus on not just inherited cardiovascular disease, but also specific areas within the field. They are recognized leaders in genetic heart disease, having written many national care guidelines and published numerous papers. At our clinic, a cardiologist carefully reviews your medical history and previous imaging. The cardiologist may order additional tests, such as specialized cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and will discuss your team's findings and recommendations with you.
View All {0} Cardiologists »Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Certain cardiologists further specialize in diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. Our center has an electrophysiologist who specializes in inherited disease.
View All {0} Cardiac Electrophysiologists »Interventional Cardiologist
If you need heart care, you might work with an interventional cardiologist at some point. These doctors are specially trained cardiologists who can access your heart through an artery or vein using thin tubes called catheters. They can help with your initial consultation, diagnostic tests, or treatment.
View All {0} Interventional Cardiologists »Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Our interventional cardiologists collaborate with surgeons during your initial evaluation, to help you choose the best path of care. The two specialists also partner on newer, minimally invasive techniques, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and hybrid coronary revascularization.
View All {0} Cardiothoracic Surgeons »Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse who has completed graduate education. This specialist uses clinical expertise and research to improve patient outcomes. A clinical nurse specialist may devise and implement new strategies for nurses in a particular area, such as cancer, to improve patient care.
View All {0} Clinical Nurse Specialists »Stanford is an Academic Medical Center, which is a type of hospital setting where doctors teach the entire spectrum of medical education. Students range from beginning medical students to fully licensed and practicing doctors completing advanced sub-specialty training. Stanford Medicine is a partnership between Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford Health Care. Since Stanford is a teaching hospital, you can expect to meet many providers and providers in training.
- Attending Physician: a doctor who supervises doctors in training or in medical school
- Fellow: a doctor doing postgraduate level work and specializing in care of patients with specific conditions
- Resident: a doctor who has graduated from medical school and is in training (also called “residency”) here at Stanford. A resident is also called an intern
- Medical Student: a student who is currently enrolled in medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor
Extended Care Team
Our center has the world’s first group of dedicated advanced practice nurses, specially trained in cardiovascular genetics, a focus that helps them fully understand your unique background and needs. As the backbone of our center, our nurses:
- Record an extensive family history and prepare everything before your visit
- Help you follow your doctor’s recommendations for diet, exercise, and medications by providing education and support, with personalized instructions for your safety
- Provide support between visits with scheduled phone clinics
- Take your calls during clinic hours and help get you answers
NURSES
Many genetic counselors handle a range of inherited conditions and work in separate practices. Our highly experienced, board-certified counselors focus on cardiovascular disease, working directly in our center. In addition to investigating your family history, they help explain the genetics behind heart disease and the implications. They discuss the benefits and risks of genetic testing. If you decide to get tested, they interpret the results and discuss what they could mean for you and your family.
GENETIC COUNSELORS
Genetic heart disease requires a number of logistics, which our patient coordinators manage. Among other duties, they help collect your medical records and previous test results.
If you qualify for a clinical trial for genetic heart disease care, our research coordinators guide you through the process. They educate you about what to expect during the study, answer your questions, and schedule your appointments.
Support Services
From our team approach to our full range of support services, our program focuses on your specific needs and preferences:
- Dietitians: Dietitians from Stanford’s Preventive Cardiology Clinic work with you to develop personalized, heart-healthy plans with options that actually work for you.
- Psychological support: Our cardiologists, genetic counselors, and nurses all spend time helping you through the emotional challenges of a genetic heart disease diagnosis. If you need additional support, we can arrange for you to meet with a Stanford psychologist who focuses on cardiovascular care. Such specialization is rare, and our service is the largest of its kind in the country, providing a model for others.
- Family planning: If you want to have children, our team can help you work through the implications of genetic heart disease. We partner with Stanford OBGYNs for services including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to screen embryos for genetic changes.
- Additional support services:
We make genetic heart disease care as easy as possible for you and your family, from the youngest member to the oldest:
Frequently Asked Questions
We participate in a wide range of insurance plans. View the list of insurance plans accepted by Stanford Health Care »
Have insurance or pre-authorization questions? The Patient Financial Clearance team is available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., to answer your questions. Please call 650-724-4445 or 1-877-291-7335 (toll free).
When choosing a doctor, it’s important to consider the doctor’s clinical training, experience and expertise in a specialized area that matches your health care needs.
You can find the right Stanford doctor for you by using our doctor directory and filtering the results based on a medical category, specialty, or doctor’s last name. View our list of our Inherited Cardiovascular Disease doctors »
At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our cardiologists, electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists and heart surgeons work as a team with genetic counselors, cardiovascular nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and patient care coordinators to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »
You can call the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease directly to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. Call 650-736-7878 to make an appointment.
Yes, Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Meet with one of our financial counselors to find the best approach to paying for your health care. Financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Learn more about financial assistance services »
Managing treatment for Heart Disease is a highly personalized process. Our care team guides you every step of the way, including:
- What to expect and what to bring on the day of your appointment
- Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
- Suggested questions to ask your doctor
For your first appointment, you should plan to bring any related test results and your medical history to share with your doctor. Our clinic receptionists will confirm the information you should bring with you prior to your first appointment.
You will also need to have the following information with you when you check in:
- Insurance card
- A form of payment for any co-pays or deductibles
- One form of photo ID:
- Valid state-issued driver’s license
- Valid state-issued ID card
- Valid passport
- Valid U.S. Military ID card
- Valid U.S. Permanent Resident Card
The Esophagus Center is located at the following address. Self-parking options are available for a fee.
Please see Directions and Parking information for:
Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease
We recommend you allow enough time to park to ensure you arrive on time. Due to construction near the main hospital campus, please plan to arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to your appointment time at our Palo Alto location. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic and complete any additional paperwork.
Please plan to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment time due to construction near the main hospital campus. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic and complete any additional paperwork.
Please print, fill out, and return the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care.
Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support.
Write down your questions before your appointment and rank them in order of importance, beginning with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all your questions answered during your appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.
You have multiple options when it comes to paying your bill.
- Pay Online:
- You can log in to MyHealth or the MyHealth mobile app to see and pay your bill.
Already have an account but need help logging in?
Contact the MyHealth Help Desk
- You can also pay as a guest to pay your bill without logging in.
- Pay by mail:
- Stanford Health Care
P.O. Box 740715, Los Angeles, CA 90074-0715
Los Angeles, CA 90074-0715
- Stanford Health Care
- Pay by Phone:
- You can call our Patient Billing Customer Service Office
1-800-549-3720.
- You can call our Patient Billing Customer Service Office
For our latest business hours and for more information about billing, visit our Billing page.
At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our gastroenterologists, neurologists, surgeons, and otolaryngologists work as a team with device nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and imaging technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »
Please call our clinic receptionists at 650-736-5555. They are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to help you reschedule or cancel your appointment.
To determine if a clinical trial is right for you, talk to your doctor. He or she can refer you to a research coordinator for more information on studies that may be right for your specific condition.
You can also find the guidelines for who can participate in a particular clinical trial online. However, it is best to work with your doctor to decide the right care approach for your needs.
Many of our programs are available to international patients.
Our International Medicine Services team can help you find the right doctor, estimate medical costs, book travel, and get you information about Stanford programs and services.
Please call +1 650-723-8561 or email IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org to get started.
For Patients
Stanford Health Care is known worldwide for the advanced patient care provided by leading medical experts. We also provide a wide range of services to our patients.
Support Group
DCM/HCM monthly virtual support group A peer-lead online discussion group with featured guest speakers. Virtual meetings from 6 - 7:30 pm PT, first Monday of each month. Register here.
Quarterly SCICD eNewsletter
News from the Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease. Click here to read the latest issues or join our mailing list.
International Patients
Phone: +1 650-723-8561
Email: IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org
Call us to make an appointment
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease