As the prevention and treatment of vascular disease continues to advance, Humber River Health (Humber) is taking steps to ensure patients in North West Toronto have equitable access to high-quality, life-saving cardiac care. As one of Ontario’s busiest cardiology programs, Humber sees more than 17,000 patients each year. To meet the rising complexity and urgency of cardiovascular needs, the Hospital is making significant upgrades to its Cardiology Program, including the expansion of its device clinic to include an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) program and the development of a state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) Lab.
Currently, patients who experience certain cardiac emergencies, such as those requiring catheter-based diagnostics or interventions, must be transferred to another facility. These transfers not only delay critical care, but also contribute to longer hospitalizations and fragmented care experiences. As Humber continues to lead the charge in building a more integrated and responsive healthcare system, its vision is to perform essential procedures like angiograms and angioplasties on-site, improving the speed, continuity, and quality of care.
The proposed Cardiac Cath Lab will serve as the cornerstone of this transformation. As a critical tool in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, a Cath Lab enables clinicians to assess coronary blockages and perform interventional procedures in real time. For patients, this means fewer delays and safer outcomes, particularly in time-sensitive cardiac events. For the health system, it represents a more efficient and coordinated model of care delivery, especially in a high-demand region like North West Toronto.
Complementing the future Cath Lab is the recent and successful launch of Humber’s ICD program, which is part of Humber’s Device Clinic, alongside pacemakers. Earlier this year, the Hospital implanted its first Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, a small device that monitors heart rhythms and delivers life-saving shocks to restore normal rhythm when needed. The device was placed in a patient named Silvino, who was admitted to Humber’s Intensive Care Unit and became the first individual to receive this treatment entirely within the Hospital.
Before this advancement, patients like Silvino would have been transferred to a different institution for implantation and then returned to Humber for recovery and follow-up. With the implementation of the ICD program, this entire care pathway is now delivered on-site, increasing convenience, safety, and peace of mind for both patients and their families. The new ICD Clinic also represents a key step in Humber’s broader commitment to modernizing cardiac services and offering a full continuum of cardiovascular care under one roof.
Another major milestone in Humber’s cardiac care expansion is the relaunch of its Heart Failure (HF) Clinic. The Clinic serves patients who have been recently diagnosed with heart failure, are experiencing uncontrolled symptoms, or have been hospitalized for heart failure-related complications. By offering rapid access to specialized care, education, and monitoring, the HF Clinic plays a crucial role in preventing readmissions and improving patients’ quality of life.
The relaunch was made possible through the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary teams, and by engaging patients and families in the redesign process. One notable contributor is Marjan Dehghani, a member of Humber’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC), who joined after her mother, Rouhi, was diagnosed with heart failure and atrial fibrillation at age 90. Following a serious case of Digoxin toxicity that required emergency intervention, Rouhi received exemplary care at Humber. This experience inspired Marjan to get involved and advocate for improved cardiac services from the patient’s perspective.
As part of the HF Clinic planning team, Marjan brought critical insights into what patients and caregivers need, whether it be improved educational resources, clearer care plans, or more compassionate communication. Thanks to regular visits to the HF Clinic, Marjan and her now 94-year-old mother have successfully avoided hospital readmissions and continue to manage Rouhi’s condition safely at home.
These initiatives, combined with Humber’s clinical expertise, underscore the Hospital’s commitment to continuous quality improvement and innovation in cardiac care. They also reflect Humber’s larger vision: to build a comprehensive cardiac program that includes diagnosis, intervention, rehabilitation, and long-term management, all delivered locally, efficiently, and equitably.
With the growing prevalence of heart disease and an aging population, the need for advanced cardiovascular services has never been more urgent. “By investing in the infrastructure and programming required to meet these needs, Humber River Health is lighting new ways in cardiac care, and ensuring that patients and families can access the life-saving services they need, close to home,” says Jhanvi Solanki, Vice President of Clinical Programs.
