Building the Cardiovascular Program in Northwestern Ontario

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC)’s Regional Cardiovascular Program fosters the development and delivery of collaborative care across Northwestern Ontario, supporting the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with conditions affecting the cardiac and vascular system.

TBRHSC provides cardiovascular services including Cardiac Diagnostics (ECHO, Stress Testing, ECG, Holter Monitor Clinic), Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Pacemaker Clinic, Rapid Access Vascular Examination (RAVE) Clinic, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, alongside the dedicated cardiac and vascular units where patients received specialized care. Across these services, highly skilled interdisciplinary teams work together to provide care and support the needs of patients and families from across Northwestern Ontario throughout their care journey. The team consists of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, general and interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiac sonographers, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical radiation technologists, data specialists, clinical nurse specialists, registered cardiology technologists, ECG technicians, registered respiratory therapists, respiratory aides, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, physiotherapists, registered dietitians, pharmacists, clerical and administrative staff along with clinical leaders across the program. TBRHSC’s Regional Cardiovascular Program strives to promote collaboration, partnership, and equitable access to care in the North.

The team responsible for developing the new Cardiovascular Surgery Program is working with internal and external partners to bring cardiac surgery to Northwestern Ontario, strengthening our ability to provide specialized care close to home. This work builds on a partnership that began in 2014 with University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, using a “One Program Two Sites” model that supports shared standards, learning, and clinical expertise across teams. Phase 1 successfully introduced vascular surgery services at TBRHSC, and phase 2, now underway, focuses on launching cardiac surgery, creating new opportunities for staff growth, collaboration, and advanced practice.

“Our Regional Cardiovascular Program reflects our commitment to ensuring people across Northwestern Ontario can access high-quality, specialized cardiac and vascular care closer to home,” said Wayne Taylor, Director, Cardiovascular, Medicine and Renal Program at TBRHSC. “Through strong partnerships, interdisciplinary teamwork, and a clear focus on equity and collaboration, we are strengthening cardiovascular care across the region. The expansion of services, including the introduction of cardiac surgery, represents an important milestone for our organization and for the patients and families we serve, today and into the future.”

The expansion will include a new hybrid operating room, two operating rooms for open-heart surgery, a 14-bed Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, a six-bed Coronary Care Unit, a Cardiovascular Care Clinic and expansion of our Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD) at TBRHSC. To support this expansion and the many people and families who access our services across Northwestern Ontario, the Program works closely with regional partners to promote collaborative design and equitable implementation across the region. Data guides quality improvement and service planning, supported by TBRHSC data specialists, while promoting evidence based best practice across the program. Together, the team is continuing to strengthen clinical services and regional presence to support exceptional care for every patient, every time.