Clinical Assistant Professor Louis Teo is a Senior Consultant in the Department of Cardiology at the National Heart Centre Singapore, where he also serves as Director of the Heart Failure Programme. His clinical interests are heart failure and echocardiography. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Clinical focus
Heart failure and echocardiography.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS (Hons, Australia), MRCP (UK), FACC (USA).
Where they practise
- Clinic / practice: Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore — Outram, Hospital Drive
- Hospital affiliation(s): National Heart Centre Singapore
Related heart-health guides
Getting to the clinic
Clinical Assistant Professor Louis Teo practises in the Department of Cardiology at the National Heart Centre Singapore, on Hospital Drive in the Outram medical campus. The nearest station is Outram Park MRT, an interchange served by the East-West Line (EW16), North-East Line (NE3) and Thomson-East Coast Line (TE17), which makes it reachable from across the island. From the station, the SGH campus is connected by sheltered walkways and internal shuttle services that link the various blocks, including the heart centre.
If you are driving or taking a taxi, there are drop-off points within the campus and visitor carparks on site, though the Outram campus is large and busy, so allow time to park and find your way. Because the campus is extensive, it can help to note the building and level of your appointment in advance and to use the internal signage or shuttle. For anyone who finds walking tiring, the shuttle and sheltered links between the MRT and the heart centre are useful to plan around.
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What heart failure and echocardiography cover
Dr Teo’s interests are heart failure and echocardiography. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as the body needs, causing breathlessness, fatigue and fluid build-up in the legs or lungs. It may result from a previous heart attack, high blood pressure, valve problems or disease of the heart muscle. Care focuses on relieving symptoms, slowing progression and reducing hospital admissions through medicines, monitoring and lifestyle support.
Echocardiography is the use of ultrasound to create moving images of the heart. It shows how well the heart chambers are pumping, how the valves are working and whether the heart muscle is thickened, weakened or damaged. It is one of the most important tools in cardiology because it is safe, painless and gives detailed information without radiation. In heart failure, echocardiography helps establish the cause, gauge severity and track how the heart responds to treatment over time.
What to expect at a consultation
A first visit usually begins with a discussion of your symptoms, such as breathlessness, tiredness, palpitations or swelling, and how they affect your daily life. The doctor reviews your history, risk factors and medicines, then examines your heart, lungs and circulation. Tests may include an ECG, blood tests, a chest X-ray and an echocardiogram to assess the heart’s pumping function and structure. Where needed, further imaging or functional tests may be arranged.
The consultation typically ends with an explanation of the findings and a plan. For heart failure this often means a tailored combination of medicines, advice on salt and fluid, and a follow-up schedule. As this is a public heart centre, you may also benefit from access to a wider multidisciplinary team and structured heart failure programmes.
Preparing for your appointment
Bring your photo identification and, importantly for subsidised public care, your referral letter from a GP or polyclinic. Gather previous heart records, including earlier ECGs, echocardiogram reports and any discharge summaries, especially after a heart attack or heart failure admission.
- A complete list of current medicines and supplements with doses.
- Recent home blood pressure or weight readings if you track them, as daily weight helps detect fluid build-up.
- A written list of symptoms and questions, including how far you can walk before breathlessness sets in.
- Details of other conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease that affect treatment.
After your consultation and follow-up
After your visit, the plan and test results will be explained and documented. Heart failure care usually involves review visits to adjust medicines, repeat blood tests such as kidney function, and monitor symptoms and weight. Echocardiograms may be repeated at intervals to see how the heart is responding. Referrals for further tests or to other team members, such as heart failure nurses or rehabilitation, may be arranged as part of ongoing care.
Continuity is important, as heart failure benefits from steady, well-adjusted treatment over time. You are entitled to seek a second opinion. Seek urgent care, or attend an emergency department, if you develop sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, or rapid weight gain with worsening swelling.
Booking, referrals and fees
As a public heart centre, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is usually needed for subsidised specialist care, and it also passes on your medical history. For eligible procedures, MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may apply within set limits, while consultations are generally paid out of pocket, with subsidies for eligible patients in the public system. Confirm the expected costs and your eligibility with the centre when booking.
Common questions
Why is an echocardiogram important in heart failure?
It shows how well the heart is pumping and whether the valves or heart muscle are affected, helping to find the cause, judge severity and monitor the response to treatment.
Is heart failure always permanent?
Some causes can improve with treatment, while others are long-term. Many people live well for years with the right medicines, monitoring and lifestyle measures.
Do I need a referral to be seen at a public heart centre?
A referral from a GP or polyclinic is usually required for subsidised specialist care and helps share your history with the team.
What can I do at home to help manage heart failure?
Taking medicines as prescribed, watching your salt and fluid intake, weighing yourself regularly and reporting new swelling or breathlessness early all support better control.
Sources & verification
See also: Best cardiologists in Singapore (editorial directory) and our shortlist of cardiology clinics.
This is an independent, factual profile compiled from the public sources listed above — not a paid listing, advertisement or endorsement. Details can change; always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council public register and confirm specifics directly with the clinic. This page is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual practitioner. See our editorial policy.
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