Compare 66 cardiothoracic surgeons in Charlotte, NC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
66
Cardiothoracic Surgeons
100%
Accepting patients
97%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Charlotte is a healthcare boomtown. Atrium Health, now part of Advocate Health, is the dominant system and one of the largest employers in the Carolinas. Novant Health provides the main alternative. The city's explosive population growth over the past decade has pushed both systems to expand rapidly into the suburbs, and new medical facilities are still being built to keep up with demand.
Charlotte has 66 cardiothoracic surgeons. The most common credential is MD (97%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Charlotte's healthcare map follows its growth rings. The Carolinas Medical Center campus sits in Midtown, while Novant Health Presbyterian is a few miles south. The LYNX Blue Line light rail connects South End to Uptown and is walking distance from several medical offices. But most of Charlotte's healthcare infrastructure is car-oriented, with major outpatient campuses in Ballantyne, Huntersville, and University City along the I-77 and I-485 corridors.
Providers practice throughout Charlotte. Uptown is atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, anchors healthcare in Charlotte's urban core. South End is a growing, transit-connected neighborhood with new medical practices near the LYNX light rail. NoDa (North Davidson) is an arts district with community-oriented practices and proximity to Atrium Health University City. Dilworth is a historic, walkable neighborhood near Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.
Nearby hospitals include Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, and Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital. Local training programs run through University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System). Atrium Health is one of the largest healthcare systems in the Southeast, with over 70,000 employees.
The consultation includes a review of your cardiac or thoracic imaging, lab work, and previous testing (echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization, CT scans). The surgeon will explain the recommended procedure, expected outcomes, risks, and recovery timeline. For heart surgery, pre-operative testing may include dental clearance, blood typing, and a meeting with the anesthesia team. Recovery from open-heart surgery typically involves several days in the ICU and a total hospital stay of five to seven days.
Atrium Health and Novant Health don't share medical records, so choose one system for your primary care and try to stay within it for referrals. Both have robust online scheduling and patient portals.
See a cardiothoracic surgeon for coronary artery disease requiring bypass surgery, heart valve disease (aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation), aortic aneurysms involving the thoracic aorta, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, and pleural conditions. Your cardiologist, pulmonologist, or oncologist will typically make the referral when surgery is being considered.
Consultation copay: $30-75 · Bypass surgery (CABG): $70,000-200,000 · Valve replacement: $50,000-170,000 · VATS lobectomy: $30,000-80,000
Charlotte, NC has 66 licensed cardiothoracic surgeons. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of cardiothoracic surgeons in Charlotte, NC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is the dominant commercial carrier by a wide margin. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also have meaningful networks. NC Medicaid (managed through WellCare, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Healthy Blue) is accepted at most Atrium and Novant facilities.
A consultation copay is $50 to $100. Coronary artery bypass costs $70,000 to $200,000. Heart valve replacement costs $80,000 to $170,000. Lung lobectomy costs $30,000 to $80,000. Actual costs in Charlotte, NC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Cardiothoracic surgery involves the highest costs in surgery. Hospital stays average five to ten days. Bills include the surgeon, assistant surgeon, anesthesia, perfusionist (heart-lung machine operator), ICU charges, and implants. Confirm all providers are in-network before the procedure.
Charlotte is essentially a two-system market: Atrium Health and Novant Health. Your insurance network will usually point you toward one. For pediatric specialty care, Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital is the regional referral center.
77% of cardiothoracic surgeons in Charlotte, NC accept Medicare. Medicare covers medically necessary cardiothoracic procedures including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve replacement, and lung cancer surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation after surgery is also covered. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some cardiothoracic surgeons in Charlotte, NC accept NC Medicaid (Healthy Opportunities), the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary cardiothoracic surgery. Prior authorization is required. Coverage includes surgeon, facility, anesthesia, ICU, and post-operative rehabilitation. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm NC Medicaid (Healthy Opportunities) participation before scheduling.
Both Atrium Health and Novant Health have online tools that let you filter by insurance, location, and specialty. For the fastest new-patient appointment, look at practices in newer suburban locations like Ballantyne, Lake Norman, or Indian Trail, which tend to have more availability than Midtown offices.
Atrium is larger and runs the region's only Level I trauma center (Carolinas Medical Center). Novant tends to have a reputation for smaller, community-focused facilities. Both provide high-quality care, but your insurance network is the most practical deciding factor.
Top accepted carriers in Charlotte, NC include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-17091, qhp-11512, and qhp-33863.
Cardiothoracic surgery is covered under medical insurance for medically indicated conditions. These are complex, expensive procedures that always require prior authorization. Cardiac rehabilitation after surgery is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans (typically 36 sessions). Verify that all members of the surgical team and the hospital are in-network. Hospital stays for heart surgery commonly exceed $100,000 before insurance.