On May 7, 2016, St. Paul's Hospital's Pacific Adult Congenital Heart Disease (PACH) Clinic invited patients and their families to learn more about navigating life as an adult with congenital heart disease. Over 150 participants attended the clinic.

1. Nurses’ Hotline:
Taking Charge of Your Heart
Alexia Gillespie, Emma Iacoe & Bev McCarthy
Patient Educators, PACH Clinic

2. Clinic Visit
How to make the most of your clinic visit:
• BC care card
• List of other health care providers
• List of current medications and supplements
• Questions and concerns related to your heart,
family planning, symptoms and lifestyle
• Health goals

3. Things You Should Know
Simple description of your heart condition
Checking your blood pressure
Antibiotic prophylaxis
Exercise limitations (if applicable)
Dietary Guidelines
Follow up plan

4. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Questions to ask yourself:
Do you eat fruit <2x/day? Vegetables less than 5x/day?
Do you skip breakfast or any other meal?
Do you eat baked goods/candy/chips/refined
foods/daily?
Do you eat cheese and red meat more than 2-3/wk
each?
Do you drink juice, pop or sweetened beverage daily?
Do you use cream/sugar in your coffee?
Do you eat out more than 2-3x/wk?

5. Clinic Visit Summary

6. Resources

7. i heart change.

9. Health Passport
www.csep.ca/guidelines

10. HealthLinkBC
** image from home page?

11. The Importance of Having
a Family Doctor
• Prescription renewals
• Completion of forms
• How to find an FP

12. Symptoms of Concern
• Cardiac symptoms - SOB, dizziness,
chest pain/tightness/pressure, palpitations,
swelling of feet/ankles or abdominal
bloating, unexplained change in exercise
tolerance

13. Symptoms of Concern
• Endocarditis – What is it?
• What are the symptoms? Fever, chills,
night sweats, aching joints and muscles,
ongoing fatigue with no other explanation,
persistent cough

14. Symptoms of Concern
• Stroke – sudden onset of any of these
symptoms:
• Weakness or numbness
• Trouble speaking
• Vision problems
• Severe and unusual headache
• Dizziness or loss of balance

15. Going Traveling?
Things you should take with you
• Copy of last consult letter
• Current list of medications
• Clinic contact information

16. Peer Support Group

17. Patient & Family Centred Care