CARDIOLOGY CARE AMID COVID-19

“For patients with symptoms suggestive of heart disease or known heart disease at high risk of progression and who are closely followed by our cardiologists, we recommend that they seek help, as the risk of ignoring these high-risk symptoms, or not monitoring for disease progression is higher than the risk of COVID-19,” says Physician Lead, Dr. Yaariv Khaykin.

“Our COVID safety measures include: rigorous cleaning standards, physical distancing and PPE. ALL VISITORS/PATIENTS MUST WEAR A MASK THAT COVERS THE NOSE, MOUTH AND CHIN (A FACE SHIELD WITHOUT A MASK IS NOT PERMITTED). As all patients, staff and visitors are screened, the risk of contracting COVID during the patient visit to PACE offices is likely much lower than at their grocery store or any other community venue.”

Adhering to provincial guidelines, PACE physicians will only provide COVID-19 vaccine exemptions on very rare occasions. Exemption letters will only be provided for the following medical conditions:
— Well documented allergic reaction to one of the vaccine ingredients, or severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis following the first dose of the vaccine (not including mild fever, muscle and joint aches, pain at the injection site, lumps in the armpit on the side of the injection,and sweats – these constitute a known benign reaction to the vaccine).
— History of myocarditis (for individuals 12 to 17 years of age) or a new diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis by your PACE cardiologist after dose 1 of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax) vaccine.
— Actively receiving monoclonal antibody therapy or convalescent plasma therapy for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.
For other serious adverse events following COVID-19 immunization, patients must visit their family doctor.

With respect to telemedicine, PACE continues to offer virtual care. For videoconferencing, patients can use a smart phone, tablet or a computer (equipped with a microphone and camera). But, a regular telephone call also works just fine, too. All appointments are covered by OHIP. Our clinics are open for full cardiac testing services and urgent cardiology consultations.

We are able to offer ambulatory monitoring services at our clinics and remotely (remote devices are limited to 72 hour and 14 day holters). The monitoring devices will be shipped to the patient and back to us for analysis, if ordered. Patients will not have to come back to our clinics to have the monitor applied, or to return the monitor. Patients can also perform ECGs at home using a HeartCheck CardiBeat Handheld ECG device, which is available for purchase at our clinics or online (see our virtual care section).

Virtual care is available for all PACE Cardiology patients. New patients will require a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.
 For more information on our virtual care program, or to make an appointment, call 1-888-662-0680, or email us at info@pace-cardiology.com.

Generally speaking, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe — and strongly recommended — for most people (12 and over) with a heart condition. “Getting vaccinated is especially important for people with heart disease,” said Dr. Yaariv Khaykin, physician lead at PACE Cardiology. “That’s because people with heart disease or stroke are at a much greater risk from the virus than they are from the vaccine.”