Cardiology
- Keyword(s)
- Coronary arteries -Diseases
- Heart diseases
- Heart attacks
The CHU Sainte-Justine Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Outpatient Clinic receives about 9,000 visits per year, of which 3,000 are new patients referred by their physicians.
The average waiting period to get an appointment is one to two months for a new patient, and less than one week for emergencies and newborn babies.
The clinic also monitors about 10,000 former patients.
- All examinations are performed the same day (blood samples, radiography, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress test…), in order to avoid repeated visits for the patient and his/her family for the same evaluation.
- As the case may be, four to five tests are performed in half a day.
- The average total time of visit is about three hours.
- We therefore suggest to families to plan accordingly (diapers, milk, snacks, reading material or other toys).
- The ultrasound rooms are equipped with DVD players so a family can take along the favourite videos of the child, which can greatly improve child's cooperation.
- In fact, for this examination the child needs to stand still and be calm for about 15 to 30 minutes, which may require some form of sedation.
- The patients are cared for by the clinic staff. Upon their arrival, the receptionist will plan the process of the visit.
- Next, patients meet the nurses, the necessary examinations are then performed, before their family meets with the cardiologist, who may be assisted by students or residents, since the CHU Sainte-Justine an teaching hospital.
- According to the patient’s needs, a dietician, a social worker, a psychologist and a liaison nurse are available.
Also, it's important to note that there is a wide network of itinerant clinics, managed by the Cardiology Department staff at Sainte-Justine, who travel to several areas of the province (Abitibi, Mauricie, Outaouais, Lanaudière, Estrie, the North and South Shores of Montréal, etc). More than 3,000 visits are performed each year.
References