2013 The Cardiology Service at the QEII
The Cardiology Service at the QEII We understand that this is a very anxious time for you and your family/friends. We hope the information in this pamphlet will make you feel more comfortable about your transfer to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. One of our goals at the QEII is to provide cardiac patients with timely access to care. The Cardiology Service provides care to people from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and some people from New Brunswick. Patients are either admitted directly to one of the Cardiology units or admitted through a system called the 24 Hour Transfer service. The 24 hour transfer service is an effort to shorten the time cardiac patients wait to get care at the QEII. Your doctor has decided that you need the care of a cardiologist (heart doctor), and tests or procedures offered through Cardiology. Your doctor requested that you get this care at the QEII. The QEII will call when a bed is available, and you will be transferred. We will tell you at that time if you will be admitted to a Cardiology unit at the QEII, or if you are going to be a 24 hour transfer patient. After careful review of your transfer information, it is the responsibility of the cardiologist at the QEII to decide if you will be a 24 hour transfer or a direct admission. 1
24 Hour Transfer Service You will come to the QEII, have the dye test and if needed, an angioplasty (balloon procedure) and stent insertion at the time of the dye test. You will return to your local hospital the morning after your procedure. This 24 Hour Transfer is not appropriate for all patients. There are five 24 Hour Transfer beds located on Level 6 of the Halifax Infirmary. They are in the following units: Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) 6.1: (902) 473-6515 Cardiac Day Unit: (902) 473-6530 An ambulance will pick you up at your local hospital and you will arrive at the QEII by 11 am. A doctor will see you shortly after you arrive, and you will have the dye test before supper time. You will be taken back to your room at the QEII after the test. The day after the test, an ambulance will pick you up in the morning and take you back to your local hospital. In some cases, the results of the dye test may show that you need surgery. You may be kept at the QEII to wait for surgery or you may be sent back to your local hospital. The cardiologist at the QEII decides where you wait. 2
Direct admission to cardiology Some patients need further assessment and tests before or after having a dye test. Some patients need admission to the Cardiology service for reasons that don t require a dye test, but require the services of a cardiologist and other tests that are available at the QEII. They need to be admitted to the QEII for a longer period of time. You will come to the QEII by ambulance when a bed is available on the appropriate unit. Following your care at the QEII, you may be discharged home and require a family member or friend to pick you up at the QEII in Halifax. Please bring a change of clothes with you. Your plan of care will be coordinated and discussed with you after you are admitted at the QEII. What can you expect at the QEII? The team Members of a health care team will care for you. Members of the team are: Patient and family Some of the best medicine involes the care, love, and support of family. Please let us know if you have any concerns. Information will only be given to the immediate family or significant other. When staff members receive many phone calls, this can take the nurses away from the patients. We ask that you choose one family member to get and share information with others. This will help everyone in the family to receive the same information. 3
Nursing staff Our highly skilled and caring Registered Nurses (RNs) will care for you. Staff cardiologist A heart specialist (cardiologist) will direct your medical care. Resident doctors and clinical associates These doctors will assist the cardiologist with your care. They are available 24 hours a day. Patient Representative There is a patient representative available to patients and families who have concerns about any aspect of hospital care. They can be reached by phone at (902) 473-2133. Other Other team members may include: clergy, dietician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, respiratory therapists, research nurses, social workers, clinical nurse specialist, technicians, unit clerks, unit aides, and others as needed. Valuables We encourage you to leave all valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for the loss of any item. If required, valuables may be locked in the hospital business office s safe. 4
Information for your family Halifax Infirmary Your family member is being transferred to the QEII - Halifax Infirmary Site. The Halifax Infirmary has two main entrances: one on Summer Street and the other on Robie Street. Parking There are parking meters by the Summer Street entrance. Hourly and daily parking is available in the parking lot at the Robie Street entrance. Nursing unit The cardiac nursing units are on Level 6. Signs are posted to help people find the appropriate unit. There are information booths at the Robie Street and Summer Street entrances that can provide you with more information. Visiting Visiting is an important part of care. The patient and family along with the assigned nurse will decide about visitors. The patient decides who will be called family and friends. We request a limit of 2 visitors at a time. There is a quiet period between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. every afternoon. 5
Phone Patients in 6.1 IMCU and 6.2 can receive incoming phone calls. The patient switchboard phone number is (902) 473-1510. The bedside phone can be connected to make outgoing calls for a daily charge. There are pay phones beside the elevators on the 6th floor. Services The Summer Savory Cafeteria is on Level 2. Tim Hortons coffee shops are at the Summer Street entrance on Level 1 and at the Robie Street entrance on Level 4. The Summer Market Gift Shop is at the Summer Street entrance. There is a Shoppers Drug Mart at the Robie Street entrance. Bank machines are available at the Summer Street and Robie Street entrances. 6
Accommodations We do not have rooms where family can sleep at the hospital. Here are some places close to the Halifax Infirmary: Point Pleasant Lodge, 1121 South Park Street (902) 421-1599 Atlantica Hotel, 1980 Robie Street (902) 423-1161 Halifax Haven Guest Home, 5867 Inglis Street (902) 421-1650 Lord Nelson Hotel, 1515 South Park Street (902) 423-6331 The Westin, 1181 Hollis Street (902) 496-8585 The unit clerk on the nursing unit can give you more information. Family members must make their own arrangements. Smoking The QEII is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is against the medical advice of your doctor. We hope this information will be helpful to you. Use the space provided to write down any questions that you have. 7
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Looking for more health information? Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles, and online health information. For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to www.publiclibraries.ns.ca Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment. Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you! Capital Health, Nova Scotia www.cdha.nshealth.ca Prepared by: Lorraine Robertson, Nurse Educator, Cardiology Revised by: Lindsay Pottinger, Clinical Nurse Educator Designed by: Capital Health Library Services, Patient Education Team Printed by: Dalhousie University Print Centre The information in this brochure is provided for informational and educational purposes only. The information is not intended to be and does not constitute healthcare or medical advice. If you have any questions, please ask your healthcare provider. WG85-0519 Revised October 2013 The information in this pamphlet is to be updated every 3 years.