Heart and Vascular
Unity Health’s Heart and Vascular program provides the best heart care to patients at every stage of their journey. Our experienced team of cardiologists and cardiac diagnostic technicians specialize in a variety of diseases, fields and services related to heart health.
Heart and Vascular at St. Joseph's Health Centre
At St. Joseph’s Health Centre, our experienced team of cardiologists and cardiac diagnostic technicians provide people living in West Toronto with excellent heart care for a wide variety of cardiac issues.
Our cardiologists are able to assess, diagnose and treat cardiac-related issues including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and hypertension. Patients requiring care can be referred by their family doctor. Once a referral is received, an appointment will be booked in the next available clinic time.
Ground and 1st Floors (area F) Gilgan Family Wing
416-530-6043
Monday, Thursday and Friday, 9 am to 12 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday, 12:30 to 3:30 pm
Ambulatory Care Centre: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
Booking/registration: 7 am to 4:30 pm
The Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine Department provides heart and respiratory care to the communities of West Toronto. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and tests for cardiac disease.
Our cardiologists diagnose and manage a wide range of cardiovascular diseases including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Heart valve problems
- Heart failure
At St. Joseph’s we provide comprehensive access to diagnostic cardiac testing including electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, holter monitoring, Stress Tests (GXT) and nuclear cardiology stress tests. Within Unity health we have access to St Michael’s Hospital’s cardiac and vascular surgery to ensure complete cardiac care is provided for our patients.
3 East Wing
416-530-6325
Fax: 416-530-6050
An appointment is required for all tests with the exception of an ECG (walk-in from Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm)
Referrals
- Please complete the fillable Cardiology Requisition form and fax it to 416-530-6702.
The Heart Failure Clinic specializes in taking care of patients with a heart failure diagnosis. The team provides education for patients and their families so that they can better understand and manage their condition. We also optimize your medical therapy to improve your heart failure symptoms, improve heart function, and to decrease the need for hospitalization.
The interprofessional team assesses and recommends treatment for patients diagnosed with heart failure. The team is composed of the following health professionals:
- Cardiologist
- Registered nurse
- Registered dietitian
- Physiotherapist
- Social worker
During your initial visit you will meet the registered nurse, physiotherapist and cardiologist. The registered dietitian and social worker are available to you with a referral from the HF team. Please note your first appointment may last up to three hours during which time some diagnostic tests will be performed, such as blood tests and electrocardiogram (ECG). An echocardiogram (ECHO) may be performed as well, but you will be notified in advance if this applies to you.
To learn more about your heart failure diagnosis and self-management activities, please visit tedrogersheartfunction.ca
Location
- 1G South (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)
- 3 East (every other Tuesday)
Contact
- For general inquires/scheduling: 416-530-6043
- Fax referrals to: 416-530-6050
- To reach the HF clinic directly: 416-530-6000 ext. 4498
This clinic is for:
- Patients with permanent pacemakers
- Patients who may need a pacemaker
Patients with pacemakers come to the clinic on a regular schedule. During the clinic visit, patients are seen by device technologists, or a cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology. They will make sure the pacemaker is working properly.
The Pacemaker Clinic is an outpatient clinic that provides education and follow-up for patients with implanted pacemakers to ensure safe and proper function. Pacemaker appointments are typically scheduled every six months. At each scheduled visit, your pacemaker will be checked by a device certified technologist and reviewed by a cardiologist. Pacemaker implantation and pack changes can be arranged through the clinic and are performed at St. Joseph’s in the main operating room.
East Wing, Room 1E-132
416-530-6325
Fax: 416-530-6702
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
An appointment is required for all tests with the exception of an ECG (walk in from Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm)
Referrals
- Referrals for implant can be faxed to 416-530-6702 with attention to Pacemaker Clinic. Transfer of pacemaker follow-up requests can be faxed to the above number with attention to the pacemaker clinic.
Heart and Vascular at St. Michael's Hospital
The Heart and Vascular Program at St. Michael’s is a leader in a range of clinical and academic services in the investigation, prevention and treatment of heart disease and vascular conditions. As the first hospital in Canada to perform a tricuspid valve repair, St. Michael’s offers innovative options for the treatment of valvular disease such as mitral clip repairs.
The Cardiac Arrhythmia Service helps people who have heart rhythm problems. Our specialty clinics include:
- A clinic for patients with atrial fibrillation
- A clinic for patients with pacemakers or defibrillators (ICDs)
- An assessment clinic for people who may need an implantable defibrillator or a pacemaker
- A general arrhythmia clinic for all other heart rhythm disorders including genetic or inherited arrhythmias
For more information visit our Cardiac Arrhythmia Service page.
The Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Inpatient Unit provides care to patients following heart or vascular surgery or complex intervention. Our team on the unit is composed of a number of highly skilled interprofessional team members who work collaboratively to provide quality patient care.
7th Floor Cardinal Carter Wing (North)
416-864-5300
Clinical Leader Manager: Victoria Buczek
416-864-6060 ext. 6030
The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) team treats patients with acute heart issues.
7th Floor Peter Gilgan Tower
Clinical Leader Manager: Alan Doyle
Phone: 416-864-6060 ext. 40020
The Cardiometabolic Prevention Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital sees two groups of patients – those living with, and at risk for heart and vascular disease. It provides complimentary preventive care in coordination with primary care physicians and specialists. This unique clinic at the University of Toronto, spearheaded by Dr. Beth Abramson, aims to share best practices in academic preventive cardiology. Her team of cardiac prevention specialists have expertise in modern “precision” medicine. The team includes both diabetes care and kidney care experts.
Please see referral form for details.
Prevention resources
Activity
- Heart and Stroke – Activity
- Heart and Stroke – Exercise After Heart Attack
- Heart and Stroke – Pedometer Info
Cholesterol
- High cholesterol
- How to manage your cholesterol
- lpa – patient information
- lpa – professional information
Diabetes
Healthy diet
- Canada’s Food Guide
- How to read a food label
- The Portfolio Diet
- Healthy eating
- Eat whole grain foods
Healthy during COVID-19
Hypertension
- High blood pressure
- Blood pressure action plan
- Measuring your blood pressure at home
- Hypertension Canada approved devices
- DASH diet
Losing weight
- Obesity Canada public resources
- How to read a food label
- The Portfolio Diet
- Healthy snacks
- Serving size guide
Mental health
Quit smoking
The Cardiology Inpatient Unit provides care to patients admitted to the hospital for acute heart conditions such as heart failure, arrhythmias and heart attack, among many others. Our team on the unit is composed of a number of highly skilled interprofessional team members who work collaboratively to provide quality patient care.
7th Floor Cardinal Carter (South) Wing
416-864-5819
Clinical Leader Manager: Victoria Buczek
416-864-6060 ext. 6030
The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) team provides care to patients immediately following heart or vascular surgery or complex intervention. Our team of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and respiratory therapists are trained to care for patients after heart and vascular surgery.
4th Floor Cardinal Carter Wing North
416-864-5483
Clinical Leader Manager: Alan Doyle
416-864-6060 ext. 40020
We have broad access to diagnostic cardiac and vascular testing including electrocardiogram, echocardiography, holter monitoring, nuclear cardiology, cardiac MRI and cardiac CT, along with cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. We work closely with other subspecialty cardiac groups, as well as cardiac surgery and vascular surgery.
Referrals
- Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound Laboratory Requisition form
- Cardiovascular Testing Order Form (ECG)
Patient preparation for procedures
Along with our subspecialty cardiology consult services like heart failure, electrophysiology and structural heart/valve clinic, we provide a wide range of general cardiology consult services at St. Michael’s. This includes hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, simple arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and other rhythm disorders, heart failure/cardiomyopathy and the general assessment of undifferentiated patients with cardiac symptoms (such as chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations).
The Heart Failure Clinic specializes in taking care of patients with heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is not able to pump enough blood to other parts of the body as well as it should.
People with heart failure may:
- Have shortness of breath
- Have swelling of the abdomen (stomach area) legs or ankles
- Have a new cough
- Feel tired
- Feel dizzy
Research has shown that lifestyle changes and medicines can help people with heart failure. By coming to the Heart Failure Clinic, you will be able to meet with heart failure specialists who can help you manage your condition.
7 Donnelly Wing (Robert McRae Heart Health Unit)
416-864-6060 ext. 5200
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
Heart Failure Specialists
Dr. Gordon Moe and Dr. Abdul Al-Hesayen
Clinic Administrative Assistant
Frances Lee
416-864-5319
Fax: 416-864-5330
Heart Failure Clinic Nurse Practitioner
Haytham Sharar RN (EC)
416-864-6060 ext. 3102
Referrals
There is a wide spectrum of pediatric cardiology services available at St. Michael’s ranging from fetal echocardiography for prenatal screening, diagnosis and counseling; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and newborn inpatient consultation; and outpatient Pediatric Cardiology Clinic with ECG, echocardiography and holter monitoring.
Children with congenital heart disease may be prenatally diagnosed at St. Michael’s, delivered here and undergo a cardiac assessment prior to hospital discharge, return for outpatient cardiology clinic visits and potentially graduate to an adult cardiologist all in one setting.
2nd Floor 61 Queen St. East
416-867-3655
Fax: 416-867-3736
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
Phones are answered Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and on Friday, 9 am to 3:30 pm
Referrals
The Structural Heart Program specializes in providing care to patients who have conditions that affect the structures of the heart, such as the valves, walls, muscles, or blood vessels.
Our service provides advanced diagnostic testing and procedures, which include, but are not limited to:
- Transcatheter aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valve implantation
- Mitral or tricuspid clip
- Left atrial appendage closure
Our team
Our team consists of Cardiac Surgeons, Interventional Cardiologists, Echocardiographers, Cardiac Anaesthesiologists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Technicians, Clerical and Administrative Support, and other allied health professionals who are experts in structural heart disease.
Patient information
- Preparing for the MitraClip procedure
- Preparing for the Tricuspid Clip procedure
- Your guide to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Contact information
Telephone: 416-864-5442
Fax: 416-864-5768
Email: StructuralHC@smh.ca
Heart and Vascular at Providence Healthcare
Cardiology Clinic
Services include assessment and treatment of cardiac conditions by a cardiologist.
3276 St. Clair Ave E.
416-285-3619
As of April 1, 2021, St. Michael’s Foundation amalgamated with Providence Healthcare Foundation and all receipts will be issued by St. Michael’s Foundation.
We are pleased to let you know that your donation will go directly to the organization and priority that you have designated.
Last updated February 23, 2023