Cardiology

• Acute or suspected MI
• Unstable angina with chest pain
• Acute heart failure
• SBE actual/suspected
• Suspected aortic dissection
• Suspected cardiac tamponade

1) PHONE 902-473-2220 "Triage Cardiologist"

• Crescendo angina
• Symptomatic aortic stenosis
• Multiple syncopal episodes
• Syncopal episodes with known structural heart disease or abnormal ECG
• Symptomatic valvular disease other than aortic stenosis (> FC II)
• Newly diagnosed heart failure or known heart failure with deterioration
• Cardiac disease in pregnancy

1) PHONE 902-473-2220 "Triage Cardiologist"
2) FAX referral - attach EKG and recent blood work or other relevant tests

• Recent onset but stable angina
• Recent onset atrial fibrillation
• Suspected cardiac source of an embolus
• Patients needing cardiac assessment for semi-urgent non cardiac surgery – refer to General Internal Medicine (GIM)

1) FAX referral - attach EKG and recent blood work or other relevant tests

• Stable angina
• Chest pain for diagnosis - low probability of IHD
• Shortness of breath / Cardiac basis
• Chronic atrial fibrillation
• A person whose employment status is threatened
• Asymptomatic patients with ECG changes
• Asymptomatic valvular disease
• Hyperlipidemia
• Reassessment of stable patients requiring review of current treatment where appropriate
• Asymptomatic murmur (please use referral form for family physicians to order echo)
• Palpitations without syncope – refer to GIM
• Cardiac risk reduction – refer to GIM

1) FAX referral - attach EKG and recent blood work or other relevant tests

• Hemodynamically significant arrhythmias

Process
1) PHONE 902-473-2220 "Triage Cardiologist" OR electrophysiologist of choice

• Resuscitated cardiac arrest, arrhythmia with severe symptoms

Process
1) PHONE 902-473-2220 "Triage Cardiologist" OR electrophysiologist of choice
2) FAX referral form with relevant clinical tests to specific physician and indicate willingness to redirect to first available if desired.

• Patients with syncope and structural heart disease
  (e.g. Ejection fracture less than 40%, bundle branch block, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, family history of sudden cardiac death or inherited heart disease) or primary arrhythmic conditions that could be associated with a risk of significant morbidity or mortality
• Patients referred for consideration of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (primary prevention) and/or a cardiac resynchronization therapy device

Process
1) FAX referral form to electrophysiologist of choice

• Patients electively referred for an electrophysiologist’s opinion (e.g. supraventricular tachycardia, syncope without structural heart disease or other medical conditions)

Process
1) FAX referral form to electrophysiologist of choice

• Meets high risk stratification criteria
• Clinical depression
• Non-revascularization cardiac disease
• Significant anxiety
• Financial hardship (e.g. return to work commitments)

Process
Patients are automatically referred to Program upon discharge from Cardiology inpatient units or by referral from family physician/specialist or by referral from Health Professionals directly involved with patients.
1) Call 902-473-3846 to request referral form;
2) Fax referral form 902-473-7855 or mail to:

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Health in Motion
Nova Scotia Rehab Centre, Room 623
1341 Summer Street, Halifax, NS  B3H 4K4

• Cardiology Consult Request Referral Form [PDF - 200 kB]
• Cardiac Cath Lab Procedures or Inpatient Transfer Referral Form [PDF fillable* - 500 kB]
• Cardiac Diagnostic Requistion [PDF - 125 kB]
• Echocardiogram Request [PDF - 60 kB]
• Family Physician Referral For Echocardiography or Stress Testing [PDF - 200 kB]
• Nova Scotia Inherited Heart Disease Program Referral [PDF fillable* - 1.5 MB]

* Can complete electronically, print and fax to applicable number