Our team of heart specialists uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat patients with various heart conditions. Cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and even pharmacists may be involved in determining and providing the appropriate care and treatment. We use a variety of diagnostic tools to assess a patient’s health and, using advanced technology and the latest medications, provide treatment based on Canadian CorHealth Cardiology guidelines.
In addition to the broad cardiology care we provide to patients, we also offer a special focus for patients with certain diagnoses so that they can receive an extra level of care and attention.
Coumadin is a medication used to treat blood clots and to keep new clots from forming. Preventing blood clots helps to reduce the risk of a patient have a stroke or heart attack.
Patients who have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure no longer need to rush to the emergency room when their symptoms flare up, thanks to our heart failure clinic. Our physicians see patients regularly, depending on their condition, and work with the patient to make the medication, dietary or lifestyle changes needed to avoid readmission to the hospital.
It’s important that any patient with an implantable cardiac device (pacemaker) be monitored routinely to ensure that the device is meeting their needs.
One of the most important steps in addressing a person’s heart problem is to first assess the exact nature of the problem. Scarborough Diagnostic Centre cardiologists use a number of different procedures to do just that at our Heart Center. Our facility is accredited by the Corhealth Accreditation, meaning that we have demonstrated a high level of care to our patients. When necessary, our interventional cardiologists conduct CT angiograms, implant loop recorders or perform other minimally invasive procedures to help diagnose what’s wrong with your heart or vascular system. We also perform the following tests on a regular basis:
An electrocardiogram measures electrical activity in the heart.
The Holter monitor is a portable device that measures and records a patient’s heart activity.
This test uses sound waves to help a doctor understand how well a patient’s heart pumps blood.
Various forms of stress testing help doctors determine how the heart functions when physically challenged. In our stress lab, we perform the following stress-related diagnostics:
Also called an exercise stress test, this test helps doctors determine how arrhythmia or coronary artery disease might affect your heart’s ability to function properly.
Using sound waves, an echocardiogram assesses how well a patient’s heart pumps blood. It is performed while the patient is exercising.
With the use of a radioactive dye and an imaging device, a nuclear stress test creates a picture of the patient’s heart, first at rest and then after exertion.
