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Dr. Durga Madala

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome. Below are answers to questions our patients ask most often. If you do not find what you are looking for, please call our office at 408-356-4242 or send us a secure message through the patient portal. This page is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician.

Please call 911 for emergency.

Physician & Referral Line: 408-554-2888. This line is reserved for physicians, hospital staff, and established patients requiring direct access to our care team in exceptional circumstances.

If you are a current registered patient, our AI system may be able to assist you with many of your requests. Please call (508) 301-4376.

About the Practice

Who is the cardiologist
Durga Madala MD Inc. is a solo cardiology practice led by Durga Madala, MD, a board-certified cardiologist. We also have a Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Bushra Iqbal, who will be available to assist when needed.

We provide comprehensive adult outpatient cardiology services, including evaluation and ongoing management of heart disease, in-office diagnostic testing (such as ECG, ambulatory cardiac monitoring, and echocardiography), preventive cardiology, second opinions, and pre-operative cardiac clearance. We do not perform inpatient procedures or emergency care. If you are having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately.

Our office is at 15861 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95030. Parking and accessibility information is available on our Contact page

Our regular hours are [Hours, e.g., Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.]. We are closed on most major U.S. holidays. After-hours and weekend coverage information is described below.

Ample parking is available, with two lots dedicated for patient use. If you encounter any difficulty, please notify the front office and our team will be happy to assist.

Appointments and Scheduling

How do I schedule an appointment?

You can schedule by calling our office at 408-356-4242 during business hours, or by requesting an appointment through our patient portal -> here

If you have a PPO or Medicare, you generally do not need a referral. Many HMO plans (including most Medicare Advantage HMO plans) require a referral or authorization from your primary care physician before we can see you. Please check with your insurance plan and bring any referral or authorization paperwork to your visit.

New-patient appointments are typically available within 1–3 weeks for routine concerns. If your primary care physician believes the issue is more urgent, please ask them or our staff to communicate that so we can find an earlier slot.

Please bring a government-issued photo ID, your insurance card, a list of all current medications and dosages, copies of any prior cardiac tests (ECG, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT, cardiac catheterization, monitor reports), recent lab work, and a brief summary of your cardiac history if available. Completing your new-patient forms in the patient portal before the visit will save you time at check-in.

Yes. We offer secure video visits through the patient portal for follow-up appointments, medication management, results review, and many non-urgent concerns. New-patient visits and visits that require an in-office test (such as an ECG, echocardiogram, or device check) generally need to be done in person. Telehealth visits are available only to patients physically located in California at the time of the visit, as required by California law.

Please give us at least 24 business hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, so we can offer your time to another patient. A late-cancellation or no-show fee may apply, as described in our financial policy. Certain appointments require a 48 business hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule.

Insurance and Billing

Which insurance plans do you accept?

We accept a wide range of insurance plans, including:

  • Medicare
  • Anthem
  • Aetna
  • Alignment Health Plan
  • Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Health Net
  • Humana
  • UnitedHealthcare. 

Plan participation can change, so we strongly recommend you call us before your first visit to confirm we are in-network for your specific plan and product (for example, PPO vs. HMO vs. Medicare Advantage).

Yes. We are a participating Medicare provider, Medicare will be billed directly. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your specific plan rules apply, including any prior authorization or referral requirement.

No.

We are happy to see self-pay patients. Please ask our front desk for our self-pay rates and our financial policy. Under the federal No Surprises Act, you have a right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before your visit; we will provide one upon request or when required.

Co-pays, deductibles, and self-pay fees are due at the time of service. We do not accept cash. We accept check, and most major credit and debit cards (including HSA and FSA cards). After we receive your insurance company’s payment determination, you will receive a statement for any remaining balance.

A Good Faith Estimate outlines the anticipated cost of your medical care. You may request one at any time prior to your appointment.

Yes. Under the No Surprises Act and California law, you are protected from certain unexpected out-of-network bills for emergency services and certain services provided at in-network facilities. You will not be billed more than your in-network cost-sharing amount in these situations.

Payment arrangements may be available for qualified balances. Please contact our billing department for assistance.

Please call our billing office at 408-384-7053 or use our patient portal or email at billing@madalamd.com or as directed in your billing statement. We are committed to billing accurately and transparently

Prescriptions and Refills

How do I request a prescription refill?

The fastest way is to ask your pharmacy to send a refill request electronically; they will route it to us automatically. You can also message us through the patient portal at https://mycw33.eclinicalweb.com/portal3605/jsp/100mp/login_otp.jsp Please allow up to 2 business days for routine refills.

Cardiac medications often require ongoing monitoring (blood pressure, heart rate, kidney function, electrolytes, drug levels). If you have not been seen in the past 6–12 months, we may need to schedule a brief appointment — in person or by video — before refilling, for your safety

In general, we do not prescribe controlled substances such as opioids or benzodiazepines, which are typically managed by your primary care physician or a specialist in pain or psychiatry.

Test Results and Medical Records

How will I receive my test results?

Most results are released to your patient portal account when they are finalized. We will also contact you directly about any result that requires a change in your care. Please remember that under federal rules, many results are released to the portal as soon as they are signed, which may be before your physician has had a chance to call you.

You may request a copy of your medical records at any time. Requests can be submitted through our Patient Portal or by contacting our office.

For your protection, requests to send records to a third party require a completed and signed authorization form. This helps ensure your information is shared only with your consent.

We will process all requests in accordance with applicable federal and California law. Reasonable fees may apply for copying and delivery, where permitted.

Please allow up to 15 days for processing. Expedited requests may be accommodated when clinically appropriate.

Yes. We will release records to anyone you authorize in writing. For your privacy, we cannot release records based on a verbal request alone.

After-Hours and Urgent Concerns

What should I do if I think I am having a heart attack or stroke?

Call 911 immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital, and do not wait to call our office. Warning signs include chest pressure or pain, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, sudden shortness of breath, fainting, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, sudden trouble speaking, or sudden severe headache.

For urgent but non-emergency cardiac questions after hours, please call our main number at 408-356-4242 and follow the prompts to reach the on-call provider or answering service phone number at 408-554-2888. For true emergencies, always call 911. 

The patient portal is not monitored 24/7 and should not be used for emergencies or time-sensitive concerns. For anything urgent, please call us. For an emergency, call 911.

Conditions We Evaluate and Manage

What kinds of cardiac problems do you treat?

We evaluate and manage a broad range of adult cardiovascular conditions, including:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• High cholesterol and lipid disorders

• Coronary artery disease, angina, and post-heart-attack care

• Heart failure and cardiomyopathy

• Atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias

• Palpitations, fainting (syncope), and unexplained dizziness

• Valvular heart disease

• Pre-operative cardiac clearance

• Cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention

• Long-term follow-up after stents, bypass surgery, or valve procedures

No. Our practice is limited to adult cardiology (generally patients 18 and older). For children, please ask your pediatrician for a referral to a pediatric cardiologist

Tests and Procedures

What tests do you perform in the office?
Commonly performed in-office and on-site tests include the resting electrocardiogram (ECG), ambulatory cardiac monitoring (Holter monitor and mobile cardiac telemetry/MCT), echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), and exercise or pharmacologic stress testing (including stress echocardiography and nuclear stress testing). Additional diagnostic services may include ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing, carotid ultrasound, and event monitoring. The availability of specific tests may vary — please ask our staff for a current list of services offered at this location.

An ECG is a quick, painless recording of your heart’s electrical activity using sticky electrodes placed on your chest, arms, and legs. The recording takes only a few seconds and helps us look for arrhythmias, prior heart attacks, thickening of the heart muscle, and other findings.

A Holter monitor is a small, portable ECG recorder you wear continuously for a defined period — typically 24 or 48 hours, sometimes longer. It records every heartbeat during that time so we can review your rhythm in detail. You go about your normal activities (other than getting the device wet), and you keep a brief diary of symptoms.

MCT is a longer-term wearable monitor (typically up to 30 days) that transmits your heart rhythm wirelessly, in near real time, to a monitoring center. It is especially useful when symptoms are infrequent or when we need extended monitoring after a procedure or to evaluate atrial fibrillation. A trained technician reviews the data continuously and alerts us to clinically significant findings.

In broad terms, a Holter records continuously for a short period (usually 24–48 hours) and is reviewed after the device is returned. MCT records and transmits for a much longer period (up to 30 days) and is monitored as the data comes in. Your physician will recommend the test best suited to your symptoms.

An echocardiogram (“echo”) is an ultrasound of your heart. It is painless, uses no radiation, and takes about 30–60 minutes. It shows the size of the chambers, how well the heart muscle squeezes, and how the valves are functioning.

A stress test evaluates how your heart performs under increased workload. Most patients exercise on a treadmill while we monitor the ECG, blood pressure, and symptoms. If you cannot exercise, a medication can be used to simulate the same effect. Some stress tests are combined with imaging (echocardiogram or nuclear imaging) for additional information.

Preparing for Your Test

How should I prepare for a Holter or MCT monitor?

Wear a loose, comfortable, two-piece outfit on the day the device is applied. The skin where the electrodes are placed must be clean, dry, and (in some cases) shaved. Do not apply lotions, oils, or powder to your chest that day. You will be asked not to bathe or swim while wearing the monitor; sponge baths are usually fine. Continue all of your usual medications unless your physician tells you otherwise.

Unless told otherwise, do not eat for 3–4 hours before the test. Avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours, including coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and decaffeinated coffee. Do not use tobacco that day. Wear comfortable walking shoes and loose clothing. Bring a list of your medications. If you take a beta-blocker or another rate-controlling medication, please ask in advance whether to hold it.

No special preparation is needed for a standard transthoracic echo. Wear a two-piece outfit if possible, since you will need to undress from the waist up and put on a gown.

Patient Portal and Communication

How do I sign up for the patient portal?

You will receive an email invitation after you schedule your first appointment. If you did not receive one or have lost the link, call us at 408-356-4242 and we will resend it. To access portal click here

You can request appointments, message our office, complete intake forms, view test results, request prescription refills, and download a copy of your records.

We aim to respond within 1–2 business days. The portal is not monitored after hours or on weekends. For urgent issues, call the office; for emergencies, call 911.

Privacy and Your Information

Is my health information protected?

Yes. We comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and with the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA). Our Notice of Privacy Practices, available in the office and on our website, explains how we may use and disclose your information and your rights with respect to it.

Yes. You can give us a written authorization listing family members, caregivers, or other providers who may receive your information. You may revoke that authorization at any time, in writing.

We may use trained medical scribes and/or secure AI-assisted documentation tools to support clinical note-taking and improve accuracy and efficiency. These tools are used in compliance with HIPAA and applicable California privacy laws.

Yes. If you prefer not to have a scribe or AI-assisted documentation involved in your visit, please inform our staff prior to your appointment.

Office Policies

What is your policy on smoking, alcohol, or substance use?

For the safety of all patients and staff, smoking, vaping, and the use of alcohol or illegal or non-prescribed controlled substances are not permitted on clinic premises. If a patient appears impaired, the visit may be rescheduled if it is not safe to proceed.

Accessibility and Language Services

Is your office wheelchair-accessible?

Yes.

Yes. We can arrange telephonic interpretation in many languages at no cost to you, in accordance with federal civil rights and California language-access requirements. Please tell us your preferred language at scheduling so we can try to have an interpreter ready.

Feedback and Concerns

What if I have a concern about my care?

Please tell us. You can speak directly with Dr. Madala, call our office manager at 408-356-4242, or send a message through the patient portal. We take every concern seriously and will work with you to address it.

Online reviews are appreciated and help other patients find us. We do not solicit reviews in exchange for any incentive, and we never ask patients to share protected health information in a public review