Imaging Technology Expected to Enhance Patient Access to Cardiac PET Tests
Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a test used to assess the flow of blood to the heart muscle in patients with suspected or existing coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease. A sophisticated Canadian technology is expected to significantly enhance access to positron
Has the Time Come for Precision Medicine? (CCC 2016)
Precision medicine, tailored care, personalized medicine—these catch phrases all have been used over the last decade to represent similar visions for fundamentally changing the way health care is provided. The goal, in the broadest sense, is to move away from delivering care based on population
Cardiac Anesthesiologists: Master Facilitators and Providers of Critical Care
From the operating room and catheterization lab to the intensive care unit, cardiac anesthesiologists are central to patient care. Often, it is their role to shepherd the sickest and most complex patients through recovery. Stéphane Lambert, MD, is the recently appointed Division Head for Cardiac
First National Quality Report on Cardiovascular Care Released (CCC 2016)
Following the 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC), The Beat reported on a joint initiative of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Institute for Health Information to develop and report on national quality indicators for cardiovascular care. At this year’s Congress, the
Highlights from the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress
There were a lot of interesting news, research and healthcare policy discussions at this year's conference. Has the Time Come for Precision Medicine? A physician argues that tailoring care to the individual will improve outcomes and reduce costs First National Quality Report on Cardiovascular Care
Awards and Recognition at CCC 2016
Ottawa Heart Institute staff and trainees featured prominently among award recipients again this year at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, with awards from several differ professional societies. Distinguished Teacher Award, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Kwan-Leung Chan, MD A cardiologist with
Helping Men Deal with the Emotional Impact of Heart Disease
Men and women tend to deal with life changing circumstances differently. Heart disease is no exception, and the issues men experience often are not specifically addressed. “Cultural expectations are that men shouldn’t show any emotions because that’s somehow perceived as weak,” said Heather Tulloch
Using Imaging to Diagnose and Understand Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CCC 2016)
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organs in the body. Cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare type in which clusters of white blood cells, called granulomas, form in the tissue of the heart. Affecting about 5% of people who suffer from sarcoidosis, it can impact the electrical
40th Anniversary Flashback: The RAFT Trial
Roughly half a million Canadians live with heart failure. The condition is an increasingly common one that can seriously impact an individual’s quality of life. Even when appropriately treated, hospital admission and readmission rates are stubbornly high. Traditionally, therapeutic implants called
The Importance of Best Practices for Successful Smoking Cessation
Cigarette smokers face twice the risk of heart disease compared with non-smokers, and most of them—more than 60%—want to quit. About half of Canadian smokers try to kick tobacco every year. Unfortunately, the likelihood of success for those who attempt to quit on their own is dismal: fewer than 5%