Steps to Your First Appointment

Before scheduling your first appointment, you must complete some steps to help us offer you the gold-standard hallmarks of Inova AFib Center's multi-disciplinary approach to AFib care, including:

  • A personalized team based on your unique combination of risk factors
  • A comprehensive treatment plan based on the team's integrated expertise
  • The convenience of meeting up to six medical specialists in one day in one location

Step 1: Complete our Contact Form

Complete our contact form and a member of our clinical team will contact you.

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Step 2: Share Your AFib History

Before scheduling your appointment, we'll ask you to complete a comprehensive survey about your AFib history. The survey helps us assess the severity of your AFib symptoms and risk factors, including the risk of stroke, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and obesity. Your responses will help us assemble the best team of specialists to address your needs and provide personalized, comprehensive care. Once you complete the new patient survey, we'll work with you to schedule your first appointment.

Step 3: Watch Our Educational Videos

We've created a series of introductory videos to help you get to know our team, our center, what to expect, and to answer your questions. The videos feature our team explaining how we diagnose, treat, and manage your atrial fibrillation. Please watch them before your first appointment.

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Your First Appointment

Your first appointment will be scheduled as a half-day assessment. On the day of your appointment, you'll arrive at the designated Inova AFib Center location at the specified time and have a series of meetings with your hand-selected team of specialists.

Our Specialists

Select a dropdown arrow below to learn about the various specialists collaborating on patient care at the Inova AFib Center. Then, visit our team page to learn more.

Electrophysiologists are cardiologists with additional training in electrical impulses in the heart. They diagnose and treat disruptions in the normal heart rhythm (arrhythmias), including AFib, and are trained to use specialized testing, devices, and catheterization procedures, including catheter ablation. The EP will lead your AFib care and may prescribe medication and lifestyle changes, in addition to performing any necessary procedures.

If you aren't already working with a cardiologist, we can provide one. Cardiology focuses on all heart disorders through surgery and other treatment options.

Half of the patients with AFib are also estimated to have sleep apnea. If left untreated over time, sleep apnea can lead to the onset of risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes that predispose a person to AFib. In fact, patients with sleep apnea have four times the risk of developing AFib. Our sleep specialist will help manage sleep apnea if present.

Because obesity is a well-established risk factor for AFib, if you are experiencing (or are at risk for) obesity, we will discuss programs and services to help our patients manage their weight. Exercise and weight loss can improve outcomes for patients with established AFib.

Coping with a complex condition like AFib can take a toll your mental health. Our behavioral health team helps AFib patients focus on the connection between a patient's psychological and physical health.

Patients with AFib may receive long-term oral anticoagulation medication to help prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke, as well as antiarrhythmic medication to prevent and treat their abnormal heartbeats. Our pharmacist can both prescribe and explain these medications to you.