Over the last year the St. Joseph’s Heart Failure Clinic has seen more than 670 visits. A significant number of these patients had been considered ‘frequent fliers’ in the past by doctors in the Emergency Department because their conditions were so unstable it was common to see them on a regular basis.

Heart failure is a common medical condition that affects more than 400,000 Canadians. St. Joseph’s Health Centre is changing the way we care for this chronic disease to reflect the very best practices for our patients. Today, heart failure can be well managed, especially if patients take an active part in their care.

"Heart failure patients are often very sick especially if they have other chronic health conditions like diabetes or kidney failure. Their quality of life is impacted and they are often in and out of the Emergency Department," said Dr. Mark Fisher, Chief of Cardiology at St. Joseph’s Health Centre.

Over the last year the St. Joseph’s Heart Failure Clinic has seen more than 670 visits. A significant number of these patients had been considered ‘frequent fliers’ in the past by doctors in the Emergency Department because their conditions were so unstable it was common to see them on a regular basis.

Heart failure usually develops gradually. It is a condition where the heart either does not pump, (or relax or both), as strongly as it should and the body does not get sufficient blood and oxygen it needs to work properly. The weakened pumping action can cause a back-up of fluid (congestion) in the lungs and other parts of the body. Without a proper oxygen supply and with congestion, you may feel tired and short of breath at times, have swollen ankles and legs, experience sudden weight gain, loss or change in appetite and fluid buildup in the lungs.

Dr. Fisher said the cardiologists realized there was an opportunity to improve the way we were providing care to heart failure patients. After reviewing the best practices and guidelines from Canada as well the United States and Europe, the Health Centre opened a specialized clinic in 2006 to treat these patients who have complicated heart failure and require frequent follow up.

The Clinic’s multi-disciplinary team can see people on an urgent basis and can often help avoid hospitalization. A dedicated nurse, a team of Cardiologists, a Pharmacist that assists with proper medication management, a Dietitian and a Physiotherapist all work together in an interprofessional setting to provide consistent care.

Helping the patients and their families to better understand and manage their condition through education has been important to the successful outcomes seen by the Heart Failure Clinic team to date.

Patients are taught how to detect early warning signs like slight weight gain that indicates they are retaining fluid which might otherwise go unnoticed until their health conditions become unstable and they end up in the Emergency Department. Instead, patients and their family members learn to watch for these triggers and can take quick action by contacting the clinic or following a care plan developed by the team.

"They feel better and more in control of their condition," said Dr. Fisher.

For more information on St. Joseph's Health Centre Heart Failure Clinic please speak to your family physician or to someone in St. Joseph’s Ambulatory Care Centre.

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Page last updated: April 30, 2010