Cardiac Supportive and Palliative Care Program

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Cardiac Supportive and Palliative Care Program is a specialized outpatient clinic for patients diagnosed with advanced cardiac disease and their caregivers. The goal of the program is to improve access to palliative care for these patients and their caregivers across eastern Ontario. Palliative care is an important part of care for every person with a serious and incurable illness, but people with cardiac disease often do not receive palliative care until late in their illness, if at all. This program aims to address that problem.

In working collaboratively with other Heart Institute (UOHI) programs and community resources, this program focuses on symptom management, self-care strategies, caregiver support, goals of care discussions, and more for patients with end-stage heart disease and their caregivers. Upon referral to the Cardiac Supportive and Palliative Care Program, a specialist may refer a patient to other allied healthcare providers at the UOHI, including social workers, psychologists and/or dietitians.

What to expect

When your doctor refers you to the Cardiac Supportive and Palliative Care Program, a UOHI specialist reviews your information. A member of our clinic staff will then contact you to book a clinic appointment with a nurse or cardiologist.

The nurse or cardiologist will review your medical history and discuss your current medications with you. They will ask you to about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and they will provide you with advance care planning documentation.

The doctor may order some blood tests. These tests can be done at the UOHI, on the same day as your visit. The doctor may order additional tests you can schedule before you leave.

Our clinic staff are pleased to offer all that is listed below.

Medical assessment and follow-up
Personalized testing and treatment to best meet patient needs
Assistance with managing medication, symptoms, self-care strategies and caregiver support
Ongoing patient and caregiver education about the disease process
Coordination and navigation of community palliative care resources
Optimization of quality of life and prevention of hospital admissions
Ongoing support through follow-up visits and telephone monitoring

Patient instructions

Ensure your contact information is current. If your address or phone number changes, please let the clinic know.

Please bring an up-to-date list of your current medications to your clinic appointment.

Review your medications at home to see if you need refills before you come to your clinic appointments. You can get refill requests from your pharmacist for the medications you need refilled.