Pre-Admission Assessment

Before you are admitted to the Heart Institute for your MitraClip procedure, the MitraClip Clinical Nursing Coordinator will call you to complete a pre-admission assessment. The nurse will ask questions about your medications, overall health, current living arrangements and plans for when you are discharged. The main purpose of this phone call is to help us plan for your admission and discharge from the Heart Institute. We want to ensure that all of your questions and your family’s questions about the procedure are answered.

Please do not hesitate to call the MitraClip Clinical Nursing Coordinator with any questions or concerns prior to the procedure at 613-696-7212.

Preparing for Your Stay at the Heart Institute

Expect to stay at the Heart Institute for about one to seven days after your procedure. The majority of patients are ready to go home in two days.

You are generally admitted two days prior to the procedure to allow for all members of the MitraClip team to meet with you. A few pre-procedure tests can be completed at this time, and you will be seen by an anesthesiologist.

When you are admitted, you may bring some personal belongings with you onto the nursing ward. However, while you are recovering on the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), your family or a close friend will have to take your belongings home. Once you return to the nursing ward, your belongings can be brought back for the remainder of your stay.

Do not, at any time, bring valuables with you. Leave at home all your valuables (including, cash in excess of $20, jewellery, your mobile phone and other personal electronic devices). The Heart Institute is not responsible for any loss or damage to your personal belongings.

Please pack lightly and bring only the essentials, such as a hairbrush, a toothbrush and toothpaste, glasses, dentures, slippers and reading material. There is limited storage space at the hospital.

Contact Person

Please designate a contact person (a family member or close friend). We have a system for keeping your contact person informed about your progress.

If You Are Being Admitted Before Your Procedure

Call the Admitting Department at 613-696-7144 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on the morning of your admission to find out when your bed will be available.

Your bed cannot be booked until your admitting day and may not be ready until after lunch. You will be asked to come to the Admitting Department once your bed is available. Please stay at home until you are asked to come in.

Be sure to tell us about any allergies you have. As well, make sure you bring the following items with you to the Heart Institute:

• Your health card
• All of your current medications, in their original pharmacy containers or blister packs