Fixing Cardiology: Why the System Is Broken, And How to Make It Work

We all know cardiology is critical, but why is access to cardiac care often so frustratingly slow, inefficient, and costly? What if there were a better way?

In this episode of The Curbside HealthCast, Dr. Brady Steineck sits down with the uniquely insightful Dr. Mike Hughes, cardiologist, healthcare administrator, and value-based care innovator. With decades of experience spanning clinical practice, hospital leadership, and startup ventures, Dr. Hughes offers a powerful insider perspective on what’s broken in cardiology today, and how primary care and specialists can work together to fix it.

Together, they tackle head-on the real-world challenges plaguing cardiac care: poor access, misaligned incentives, burnout, and costly delays. But it’s not just a gripe session, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and real-world solutions already making a difference. Dr. Hughes shares how a simple, relationship-based model of patient navigation is cutting weeks off referral times, improving care quality, and driving satisfaction for both patients and providers.

Key Takeaways:

The RVU model often incentivizes repeat visits over timely access to new patients.

Mild cases (like early heart failure or low-risk AFib) can and should be managed in primary care, with cardiologists serving in a consultative role.

Strong relationships and real-time communication between PCPs and specialists drive better, faster, more affordable care.

Coordinated patient navigation reduces unnecessary ER visits and hospital admissions.

Scaling this kind of care model requires local knowledge, trust, and intentional design, not just more technology.

“If we focus on what’s best for the patient, getting them to the right next best site of care, we’re going to drive better outcomes and lower costs every time.” - Dr. Mike Hughes

If you’re a provider frustrated with the referral grind, or a leader ready to bring value-based care to life, this episode is your playbook.

Subscribe, share, or journal your takeaways, and reach out to Curbside QD to see how we can help bring better care coordination to your system.