Links The Toronto Congenital Cardiac Clinic is an integral part of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and collaborates with programs at universities across Canada. As more children with congenital heart disease have grown into young men and women, strong ties have developed with the Hospital for Sick Children, also in Toronto. This network pools the knowledge and experience of congenital heart disease professional everywhere in Canada to ensure that patient care available in these centres is of high quality and that transference of care takes place smoothly if patients move. Close ties exist with the Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital in London, England, a leading centre in the management of adult congenital heart disease. Patients see their own cardiologist and necessary tests are generally booked for the same day.
Care is optimised for the individual patient.
Cardiology trainees from Canada and internationally, from both adult and pediatric programs, attend the clinic as part of their training programs. There is a high-risk pregnancy unit to provide specialised counseling and care during pregnancy and childbirth for mothers with heart disease and specialised counseling from the psychosocial support group to attend to the emotional, psychological and behavioural needs of the patients. By the end of 1995, approximately 4000 patients have been seen in the Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults, half of whom were male. Half of the patients were over 32 years of age and half were less than 32 years. Half of the patients have had at least one operation on their heart.