Cardiac Care and Heart Health

What is cardiac care and heart health?
Research has shown that heart patients can lower their risk of further heart problems through education and risk reduction. Lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating and exercise habits, have been proven to help patients prevent heart problems from getting worse and to help improve overall health and well-being.

Combined with appropriate drug therapies, these strategies can help patients prevent heart attacks and other complications related to cardiovascular (heart) disease.

UHN’s Cardiac Care and Heart Health Care Area
At UHN, we bring together a team that includes a dietitian, nurse, nurse practitioners, exercise specialists, a psychologist, pharmacist, a social worker and doctors to provide specialized care and attention to heart patients. Together, we help heart patients learn about their heart conditions and develop a healthier lifestyle to lower their risk of further heart problems, like heart disease and heart attacks.

Risk reduction component
This clinic works with patients and families to help prevent heart disease from progressing and to help prevent heart attacks from recurring. Health-care providers provide education to patients and families to help them learn more about their heart disease and how to live a heart-healthy life.

Cardiac rehabilitation component
Helping patients make their hearts stronger and more fit through exercise, this component involves 48 sessions in a comprehensive approach to cardiac reconditioning. The component includes educational support, cardiac reconditioning, coronary artery disease risk reduction, and psychosocial support for patients and their families.

CERT (Cardiac Evaluation and Rapid Treatment)
This clinic provides fast consultation and comprehensive ambulatory care to Emergency patients with low-risk acute chest pain syndrome, arrhythmias (irregular heart beats), and heart failure. We also provide consultation to inpatients receiving early discharge.

A patient-centred approach to cardiac care and heart health
Our team members have special training in heart disease treatment and we work closely with the rest of the health-care team to ensure patients receive appropriate care.