Patients get new opportunities at Heart Function Clinic (Saskatoon)

"The Heart Function Clinic (Saskatoon Health Region) is a multidisciplinary team consisting of a cardiologist, registered nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, social worker and exercise therapist who work together with patients who are at high risk of readmission for unstable heart function, or new to heart function issues. They educate patients on how to manage their chronic condition to live a better quality of life. The clinic opened in September 2009 as a pilot project. It's a collaborative effort between Heart Health Services and Chronic Disease Management (CDM). 'It's important to have this follow up for the patient,' says Leslie Worth, manager of CDM. 'It gives them a resource beyond their visit to their cardiology clinic. It helps keep them on-track and out of hospital.' Saskatoon Health Region had a higher readmission rate for heart function problems compared to the Canadian average. The Region is now slightly lower than the average for readmissions since the clinic opened." Heart Function Clinic staff : (pictured left to right) Elaine Tyerman, Rochelle Anthony, Val Pottle, Tara Markowski, Linda Sinclair and Heather Yuzik