St. Mary’s cardiac program aimed at people without family doctors

A new cardiac clinic at St. Mary’s hospital is aimed at patients who don’t have a family doctor.

Starting in April, the Prevent Clinic will operate out of St. Mary’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic at The Boardwalk.

Hospital staff will work with patients at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases who have been identified through emergency departments, said Dr. Heather Warren, vice-president, medical programs and quality at St. Mary’s, in a news release.

Up to 80 per cent of premature cardiac events, including heart attacks and strokes, can be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices and by identifying and managing cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol and diabetes, says Dr. Warren.

The clinic will help patients medically manage cardiac risk factors and provide educational resources and support to encourage healthy eating, active living and smoking cessation.

Many Canadians lack access to services, including proper screenings, evidence-based medical advice, and classes and resources to improve fitness or lifestyle.

About 65,000 people in Waterloo Region and Wellington County do not have a family doctor.

“People who are most vulnerable in our communities are among those most likely not to have a family physician,” Warren said.

“This includes people from racialized communities, newcomers to Canada and Ontario and some of our lowest income earners and underhoused members of our community.”

The hospital doesn’t know how many patients the clinic will ultimately serve, but expects a gradual start with between 20-30 patients.

Manulife is donating $900,000 over the next three years for staffing, equipment purchases and development of educational resources to run the clinic.

St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Care Centre cares for more than 1.4 million residents a year, from Grey Bruce to Haldimand Norfolk.

St. Mary’s has ranked as one of the top cardiac programs in the country by the Canadian Institute for Health Information for seven years.

Since its inception in 2003, the cardiac program has doubled in size.

Ten per cent of the Ontario population is referred to St. Mary’s for cardiac care, from non-invasive diagnostic testing to cardiac surgery, cardiovascular intensive care and cardiac rehabilitation.

About 65,000 people in Waterloo Region and Wellington County do not have a family doctor