Heart Failure Clinic - What To Expect

 Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. As the heart’s pumping action weakens, blood backs up into the blood vessels in the lungs and causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs.

People who have extra fluid in or around their lungs can become short of breath. The fluid may also collect in other tissues of the body, which can cause swelling (usually the legs or abdomen). While there is no cure, proper treatment and follow up can help people live longer and more active lives.

You are the most important person in managing your health. You can prevent or reduce the number of hospital visits related to heart failure with treatment, careful monitoring, education and diligent self-assessment.

Developing an individualized program for you

At the St. Joseph’s Heart Failure Clinic, an individualized program will be developed for you.

The clinic provides the following: 

  • Comprehensive medical assessment with multiple appointments scheduled on the same day as well as ongoing support through follow-up visits and telephone monitoring
  • Testing and development of treatment plan tailored to individual patient needs 
  • Prescription of evidenced-based medication and optimizing of these therapies to improve quality of life, promote symptom management and prevent hospital admissions
  • Ongoing patient and caregiver education about the disease process, diet, lifestyle, self-monitoring, symptom recognition and self-assessment

Your first visit

  • During your first visit, you may be booked for various tests such as blood work and an echocardiogram, depending on your needs. Other testing may be arranged at a later date. 
  • A medical assessment will be done by the clinic’s registered nurse and/or nurse practitioner, and consultation with a clinic physician will occur.
  • An individualized treatment plan will be developed for you
  • You will receive education, including printed materials, to help you understand heart failure. 
  • You will receive an appointment for follow up care

What to bring

Please bring all your prescription and over-the-counter medication containers.  Alternately, you can bring a printed pharmacy list or blister package of the medications you’re taking.

Subsequent visits

Follow up visits will be booked by your care team based on your care plan. You may or may not see the same registered nurse, nurse practitioner or physician at each visit as this clinic uses a team-based approach to care.

As you continue with follow up appointments, you will become familiar with all members of our team.

If you are experiencing symptoms related to your heart failure between your scheduled visits, please feel free to contact the Heart Failure Clinic at 519 646-6100 ext. 61700 and we will call you back within 48 hours. 

Not a walk-in clinic

The Heart Failure Clinic is not a walk-in clinic. A referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required to become a patient at the clinic.