Cardiology Practice Summary | Divisions of Family Practice

Cardiology Practice Summary

You will find information on cardiology doctors and clinics below. Most doctors will have a Pathways Profile where you can gain access to their address and contact information.

Practice Summary

Practice information can be found through Pathways here.

Clinics

Clinic	Clinical Services	Contact
Westheart Management		206-2020 Richmond Rd., Victoria, BC V8R 6R5 Phone: 250.595.3111 Fax: 250.595.4278
Pulse Complete Cardiac Care	Services we offer: 10 Physicians encompassing 3 cardiology specialties Treadmill Stress Testing 24 hr Holter Monitoring 24 hr Blood Pressure Monitoring Pre-screening for new referrals	300-3680 Uptown Blvd., Victoria, BC V8Z 0B9 Phone: 250 595 1551 Fax: 250 595 1000 Website
Atrial Fibrillation Clinic (RJH)	Provides support and patient education to patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation via a multidisciplinary team of electrophysiologists or a general cardiologist, nurse clinicians, and a clinical pharmacist. The emphasis is to ensure patients are on appropriate stroke prophylaxis, have optimal heart rate and symptom control, and are educated about atrial fibrillation and its management. Electrophysiology services are provided to patients with high burden AF symptoms who may require rhythm control (antiarrhythmic drugs or procedural interventions such as pulmonary vein ablation), and those with challenging rate control issues. Patients managing well in the community may also be referred to the atrial fibrillation education only class to learn more about their atrial fibrillation.	Location: RJH Phone: 250.370.8632 Referral form: click here
Cardiac Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation (RJH) (TBD)	Teaches individuals the pathophysiology, symptoms and management of atherosclerotic heart disease. Our emphasis is assisting patients through our prevention outpatient program to make lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, and eating healthy. Our multidisciplinary team includes a cardiologist, psychiatrist, nurse clinicians, physiotherapists/exercise specialists, rehabilitation assistant, social worker and dietician.	Location: RJH Phone: 250.519.1601 Referral form: click here Fax: 250.370.8267
Heart Function Clinic (RJH)	Provides management strategies, medication titration and patient education to patients with heart failure via a multidisciplinary team including a heart failure physician, nurse clinicians, a psychiatrist, a social worker, and exercise specialists. All patients are offered a monitored exercise program. The emphasis is on collaborative care for complex patients to ensure maximum tolerated therapies, prevent re-admissions to hospital for heart failure, and to educate patients and their support person on the management of their disease. Contact with the clinic varies before being returned to their regular care practitioner for ongoing care.	Location: RJH Phone: 250.519.1601 Referral form: click here Fax: 250.370.8267 Website for information on heart failure management: www.bcheartfailure.ca
Electrodiagnostics (throughout Island Health)	Cardiac related diagnostic tests: Electrocardiogram (ECG) at various location throughout Island Health Holter monitoring (RJH; VGH; SPH only) Exercise treadmill tests (RJH; VGH; SPH only) Event Monitoring (RJH or VGH only) Ambulatory Blood Pressure (VGH only)	Location: RJH; VGH; SPH Request for exam: click here
ICD & Pacemaker Clinic (RJH)	Monitors patients with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.	Location: RJH Phone: 250.370.8670
Lipid Clinic	GP referral clinic to deal with complex and difficult lipid cases	Phone: 250.381.3830
Westheart Management	Treadmill, Holter monitoring and 24 hour BP, and Event Recorders	Phone: 250.595.3111 Fax: 250.595.4278 (Referral via fax)

Labs

Lab	Lab Services	Contact
Echocardiography Lab	One to three types of echocardiography procedures (regular, stress and Transesophageal) are completed. Regular Echocardiogram use non‐invasive ultrasound‐based technology to record images of the heart to analyze structure, function and overall cardiac performance.	Location: RJH; VGH ECG requisition: click here
Island Health Electrophysiology (EP) Heart Catheterization (HC) Labs	Diagnoses and treats patients for a wide spectrum of cardiac disorders. EP Lab specializes in diagnosis and treatment of complex arrhythmias and leads the country in pulmonary vein isolation procedures. Radial artery access approach for diagnostic and complex interventional procedures including TAVI. Referral for EP or interventional procedures requires consultation with Cardiology first.	Location: RJH Inpatient Urgent Referral: Click here
Island Health Medical Imaging Services	Cardiac CT, MIBI scan,Nuclear Ejection fraction, Cardiac MRI.

Community Programs

Community Programs	Services	Contact
BC Heart and Stroke Foundation	The Heart and Stroke Foundation provides information on heart disease and stroke	Location: 200-1212 West Broadway Vancouver Phone: (604) 736-4404 Website: Click here
Heart to Heart – Cardiac Education & Support Program	Heart to Heart operates under the Victoria Cardiac Rehabilitation Society (VCRS), is an educational and support program for cardiac patients and their partners and is also for people who are at risk for heart disease. It has 7 weekly meetings. Its purpose is to assist participants with recovery from cardiovascular disease, such as angina and/or a heart attack, and from procedures such as angioplasty, stents and open-heart surgery.	Website: Click here Phone: 778-678-8423
Take Heart Exercise Program	Take Heartis a 12 weeksupervised cardiac exercise program. It is designed for people with heart disease (which includes post MI, angina, open heart surgery, and heart failure) and other chronic conditions or heart health risk factors, etc. A doctor's referral / approval is required and there is a cost for this program. It is offered in the south island at: Henderson Recreation Centre; Panorama Recreation Centre; Saanich Commonwealth Place; West Shore Parks; YMCA-YWCA of Greater Victoria; Royal Jubilee Hospital (your physician makes a referral to Dr. Swiggum); Sooke Health & Fitness	Click here for brochure & approval form

Levels of Urgency

Levels of Urgency	Valvular and Aortic	Suspect Ischemia	Suspected CHF	Suspect Arrhythmia
Urgent	Moderate or severe valvular disease with symptoms or suspected CHF New CHF with prosthetic valve dysfunction Moderate or severe valvular disease with or without symptoms in a pregnant woman Ascending aortic aneurysms ≥ 5.5 cm, NB: special exceptions for urgent referral for ascending aortic aneurysm include rapid change in size, pregnancy, Marfan’s	Suspicious chest discomfort plus any of Significant ECG abnormalities (LBBB, Q waves, gross T wave changes) Positive biomarker test Advanced age >70 3 or more Framingham risk factors Known ischemic heart disease Recurrent symptoms at low level exercise	Proven CHF by radiography and biomarkers with any of: Recurrent admissions to hospital for CHF Escalating diuretic doses Hypotension or tachycardia	WPW with symptoms Syncope with structural heart disease
Semi-Urgent	Moderate or severe valvular disease without symptoms but ventricular dysfunction noted Moderate or severe valvular disease with progressive changes noted on echo Growth >0.5cm/year. Symptomatic	Absence of high risk features AND Recurrent episodes chest pain, prolonged chest pain>5 mins Suspicious pains associated with associated features (dyspnea, nausea, radiation, weakness) Subtle ECG abnormalities (hemiblock, T wave abnormalities, non-pathologic Q) Significantly abnormal CT, treadmill	History of/or suspicious for CHF with: Absence of high risk features and any of: Significant functional impairment affecting usual ADLs History of admission for SOB Known STEMI myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy (EF< 35 or grade2- 3 diastolic dysfunction, valvopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	Criteria met : referral for primary prevention ICD Syncope with injury Documented recurrent atrial fibrillation or SVT with severe associated symptoms
Non-Urgent	Moderate or severe but not symptomatic valvular disease Positive family history of Marfan’s, with Aortic Dissection Ascending aortic aneurysm > 4.0 – 4.9 cm without special criteria noted in urgent	<40 years old Low Framingham risk score (no or low cardiac risk factors) Mild Symptoms <5 minutes chest pain, no associated symtoms Normal ECG Previous negative cardiac investigations	Low risk- abnormal cardiac echo (EF <50 but >35) and or symptoms with: <65 years age No prior infarction No admissions for SOB Normal Vital signs Echo findings or family hx of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy	Syncope or palpitations with absence of high risk or medium risk criteria Syncope risk vis a vis operating a vehicle Profound presyncope, no known structural heart disease Newly diagnosed AF Non sustained VT/VF on holter (no symptoms)