Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic

The Pacemaker/Defibrillator Clinic is a specialized outpatient cardiac clinic designed to care for patients with implanted rhythm-management devices. These devices include pacemakers to prevent slow heart rates, defibrillators to treat rapid life-threatening rhythm disturbances, and reveal monitors, which record heart rhythm irregularities.

The goal of the clinic is to:

• Look after aspects of patients’ health associated with their device
• Provide ongoing follow-up of the device
• Provide patient and family education for the device

The clinic is staffed by physicians and nurses who specialize in the treatment and care of patients who have an implantable rhythm device.

At a clinic appointment, the nurse will interrogate the device. This means that information about how the device is functioning will be obtained through the use of a computer. The results will be discussed with the physician and then shared with the patient and family members. Any alterations that may be required will be done at this time to ensure optimal functioning of the device.

The clinic works in conjunction with other health care providers that are the patients’ family physician and cardiologist. We do not provide any non-device-related cardiology assessments, neither do we address any general cardiac issues.

Patient Information
Pacemakers and defibrillators are small battery-powered computerized devices that monitor and treat a variety of abnormal heart rhythms. The decision to insert a device is made by doctors specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of the heart and heart rhythm disturbances (a cardiologist or an electrophysiologist). Patients are referred to these specialists by their family doctors.