VIDEO: How to create a cardio-oncology program

Over the past decade, many cancers centers have partnered with cardiology departments to create cardio-oncology programs to better care for cancer patients. Both chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy can cause damage to the heart, so cardiologists can help identify which patients are at risk, monitor for signs of damage and manage any issues with heart failure. 

Juan Carlos Plana Gomez, MD, chief of the cardiovascular service line at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and cardiology chair at Baylor College of Medicine, gave a presentation on how to create these programs at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2023 meeting. He spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the basics of partnering with oncology to establish a program.

"The recipe for success is to have a very good relationship with your oncologists. The model we have found that works the best is one where you create a co-directorship. This usually includes a cardiologist with an imaging or heart failure background and an oncologist," Plana Gomez explained.