Heart Failure refers to the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to meet the requirements of the body’s organs. Either the heart is too weak or too stiff or both, which prevents it from working efficiently. While there is no cure for Heart Failure, there are treatments and lifestyle modifications that can lessen symptoms.
Heart Failure Clinic
Our Heart Function Clinic provides specialty outpatient follow-up care and education to patients with Heart Failure.
The program is run by Heart Failure/Certified Respiratory Educators (CRE), in conjunction with our cardiologists, allowing for a more highly monitored, interactive program.
Clinics take place twice a week in partnership with the Best Care Heart Failure Program. A referral from your cardiologist is required to attend clinics.
What is Heart Failure?
What to Expect
The aim of the clinic is to help patients and their families to understand heart failure, learn about lifestyle modifications, and optimize medications and dosage. By becoming more informed about their heart health, patients can better manage symptoms, improve their quality of life and reduce health service use.
The clinic offers
- Medical assessment and follow-up.
- Management of medications and other additional therapies for the treatment of heart failure.
- Patient and family education about diet, lifestyle, self-monitoring, and self-management
- Continued support through regular follow-up visits and telephone monitoring.
The clinic is held every Wednesday and Friday at the Windsor Heart location. Appointments are required. Virtual visits are available during Covid.
FAQs
How do I know if I am a candidate for the heart failure clinic?
Your cardiologist will refer you to this clinic based on your diagnosis and clinical symptoms.
Is there preparation for the appointment?
You will receive two questionnaires via email prior to your appointment. These are simple questions regarding your daily activities and symptoms. A staff member will call you to assist with filling them out and answer questions about your appointment.
What happens during my appointment?
The Certified Respiratory Educator (CRE) will first review your medical history and the questionnaire with you. They will ask about your medications and some detail about your daily routine.
After determining a plan of care for you to improve your health and quality of life, they will review this with the cardiologist who will then speak to you about the plan.
You will receive an action plan to assist you with managing your heart failure symptoms.
Can I bring someone with me to the appointment?
Family members are encouraged to attend the appointment with you. There will be a lot of information shared and it is always best to have support to ensure a complete understanding of the action plan.
What happens after my appointment?
You will follow your plan of care, which includes instructions for monitoring your symptoms and what to do in case there is a change in your condition. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for 3 months after your initial visit.
