ALERT CONTENT PLACEHOLDER

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Location

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Location

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Hours

Location

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 What We Do

Our unit cares for patients who have been diagnosed with a heart condition and are scheduled for a procedure that requires a hospital stay of less than 2 days.

You will be admitted to our unit if you are having one of the following procedures:

What Makes Us​ Special

Our team incorporates evidence-based practice standards into our daily routines. What this means is that we combine proven research with our clinical expertise to offer patients the best possible care.​​

 Materials and Resources to Help You

The Patient & Family Education Program at UHN offers valuable resources to help you understand your condition.

Resources from the Patient & Family Education Program PDF Icon

* These material(s) are also available in other languages.

More information on cardiac and heart Health:

Patient & Families Services

You can also find other services throughout UHN. Learn more about patient and family services available throughout UHN.​

 Your Inpatient Stay

In the Cardiac Short Stay Unit, a team of health care professionals will care for you during your stay and help you prepare for your discharge.

If you are visiting from outside of the Toronto area, you may need to stay overnight in the city, before or after your procedure.

If English is not your first language, you must bring a friend or family member to interpret for you. They must be able to stay with you to interpret before and after the test or procedure.


What to Bring

For your stay, bring the following items. If you forget to bring anything with you or if you arrive in our inpatient unit after visiting our emergency department or transferring from another hospital, a friend or family member can bring the items after you have been admitted.

Documents and Information

  • Health card (OHIP card).
  • Information about private health insurance or other health benefits. If you have private health insurance or receive other health benefits, this may help to cover the cost of preferred accommodation if you request to stay in a semi-private or private room
  • A copy of any advance directive (power of attorney or living will) you may have.
  • Contact details for other healthcare providers who have been involved in your care to help us ensure continuity in your care.
  • The names, addresses and telephone numbers of your family members, friends or other emergency contacts and your family doctor.

Medications

  • All your medications in their original bottles.
  • A complete list of medications you are currently taking, including prescription medications, non-prescription medications, vitamin or mineral supplements and herbal remedies.

Clothing and Personal Items

  • Loose, comfortable clothes to wear during the day that are easy to put on.
  • Clothes to sleep in, such as a nightgown or pajamas and a robe.
  • Socks and comfortable shoes with non-skid rubber soles, such as running shoes. If you have limited movement in your arms or hands, we recommend bringing shoes with Velcro straps.
  • Slippers (rubber soles and closed backs are preferred).
  • Toiletries, such as a toothbrush, tissues or lip and skin moisturizer. Please do not bring any scented products.
  • Electrical supplies such as a razor or blow dryer. Please show your nurse any electrical items you bring, as items need to be checked to make sure they can be used safely in the inpatient service.
  • Hearing aids and batteries, dentures and eyeglasses.
  • Walker, wheelchair or other mobility aids, labelled with your name and phone number.

You may also want to bring:

  • A cell phone and/or a phone card for local and long-distance calls.
  • Small personal items, such as books or magazines.
  • A personal device for music or entertainment, and headphones or earplugs so you do not disturb other patients. Free UHN guest wi-fi is available throughout the hospital.
  • A small amount of money for newspapers, coffee or other small purchases in the hospital.
  • Anything else that will make your stay more comfortable.

We do not take responsibility for your money or valuables. If you choose to bring them into the hospital, you are doing so at your own risk.

When You Arrive

An admitting clerk, intake coordinator or nurse will meet with you shortly after you arrive. They will welcome you and:

  • Tell you about the services available while you are at UHN
  • Get your health card (OHIP card) number
  • Get information about any private insurance you may have or other health benefits you may receive
  • Get any other relevant information, such as advance directives
  • Help you get settled and comfortable as quickly as possible
  • Answer any questions you may have

During Your Stay

On the day of your procedure, you can expect to:

  • Wait a few hours before the procedure
  • Stay in bed for 3 to 6 hours after the procedure
  • Spend most of the day in the hospital
  • Go home the same day as the procedure (unless an overnight stay is required)

Your Treatment

Monitoring Your Health
Your healthcare team will see you every day. We will talk with you about how you are doing and answer any questions you may have. If you want to speak with a member of your healthcare team at any other time, ask the nurse looking after you.
You may have blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans or other tests performed during your stay. If we recommend that you receive any of these tests, we will discuss them with you in advance, and we will meet with you afterward to discuss the results.

Visitors

We encourage you to have family members, friends and other supportive visitors during your stay. You are welcome to meet with visitors in your room, in the common lounge areas and in the visiting areas outdoors.

UHN hospitals offer flexible visiting hours. Learn more about visiting patients at UHN »

We also welcome visitors to accompany you from our Unit, to the Cardiovascular Investigations Unit (Cath Lab), where your test or procedure will take place. They may also stay with you before and right after your procedure. During the procedure, visitors will be asked to sit in the waiting room located just outside of the Cardiovascular Investigations Unit.

Amenities

Throughout our hospital, you and your family and other visitors can find a range of amenities to make your stay more enjoyable and comfortable. Learn more about amenities at UHN hospitals.

Eating and Drinking

You will have a chance to tell us about your food preferences and allergies when you are admitted to the hospital. This information will be entered into our computer system, and your meals will take into account your preferences and allergies, as well as the diet plan specified by your doctor.

Medications

If you are taking any medications before you enter the hospital or if our healthcare professionals order new medications during your stay, we will provide your medications at the required times. For each medication, you should know:

  • The name of the medication
  • Why you need it
  • How much to take
  • When to take it
  • Any side effects it may cause

If you want to know more about your medications, you can ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse at any time.

Pain Management

As your body heals, you may experience some pain and discomfort. Our goal is to make sure that you have as little pain as possible.
Managing your pain can help your recovery. Pain management can:

  • Decrease the amount of stress on your body
  • Promote healing
  • Decrease complications
  • Prevent the development of chronic or long-term pain

To manage your pain, we need to know what you are feeling. You can describe your pain on a number scale, where "0" means "no pain" and "10" means "the worst pain you can imagine." You can also describe your pain with words like:

  • Mild
  • Moderate
  • Severe
  • Sharp
  • Achy
  • Throbbing

These words can help us understand and treat your pain.

Hand Washing

It is important to wash your hands well and often while you are in the hospital. Washing your hands will reduce the chances that you will become sick or get an infection. It's okay to ask your doctor, nurse and other healthcare providers to wash or sanitize their hands using a gel hand sanitizer before examining you. You can learn more about infection control at UHN.

How Long Will Your Stay Be?

Your length of stay is generally discussed with you prior to your admission.  Following your procedure, the length of your stay will be based on your health care team's assessment of your condition.

Preparing for Your Discharge

We will work with you and your family to start planning early for your discharge to help you make a safe and successful transition. At the end of your inpatient stay, we will give you any discharge instructions and a prescription for any medications you require. If you have any questions about your discharge or your care needs before you leave the hospital, don't be afraid to ask a member of your team. We are here to help you.​

 Meet Our Team

Medical Director: Dr. Peter Seidelin

Interim Nurse Manager: Pauline Glaves

Physicians

Cardiologists
Cardiologists are medical doctors who have special training in caring for patients with heart problems.

Cardiology Fellows and Medical Residents
Senior fellows and residents train by working under the guidance of experienced cardiologists.

Nursing

Charge Nurse
Charge nurses help with the flow of patients entering and leaving the unit.

Nurse Manager
Nurse managers are in charge of the unit and may be contacted, by patients, about any concerns not addressed by the bedside nurse or medical team.

Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training. They have a Master's degree and are certified as nurse practitioners. Our nurse practitioners have special training in cardiac care. They may:

  • Ask about your health history and do medical exams
  • Order medicine and tests for you
  • Talk to you about your test results
  • Teach you about your condition and your care
  • Help you and your family plan for going home

Nursing Students
UHN is a teaching hospital. All nursing students in the unit are closely supervised by teachers and staff. Students will introduce themselves to you so that you know who they are.

Patient Care Coordinator (PCC)
The PCC helps the manager with patient care. The PCC can also be contacted with any concerns not addressed by the bedside nurse or medical team.

Registered Nurses
Our Nurses require special knowledge and experience in cardiology, arrhythmia interpretation and telemetry monitoring. Nurses remove femoral sheaths post-procedure and monitor radial clamps. A medical directive allows nurses to manage patients experiencing a sudden drop in their blood pressure or vasovagal symptoms.

Health Professions

Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists help you become more independent in everyday activities, such as eating, dressing and bathing.

Pharmacists
Pharmacists give you information about the medicine you are taking. They also help to make sure you have the best medicine for you.

Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists work with you to improve your strength, balance and coordination.

Registered Dietitians
Dietitians help you learn about healthy eating and what to eat for a special heart diet.

Social Workers
Social workers help you and your family plan for going home. They can help you find services in the community. They also offer counseling to help you to cope.

Spiritual Care Professionals
Spiritual care providers support patients and families of all faiths.

Support

Patient Care Assistants (PCA)
Patient care assistants help you with your personal care needs, such as bathing and feeding. They are staff members trained by the hospital.

Ward Clerk
Ward clerks provide administrative support and are typically the first person who patients meet when arriving in the unit.

Learn more about health care professional trainees at UHN.​

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