St. Mary’s partners with the YMCA to bring pacemaker care closer to home for patients in Guelph-Wellington
L-R: Paul Neuert, Program Manager, Cardiodiagnostics, Heart Rhythm Clinics & DDC, St. Mary's; Crystal Hughes, YMCA; Cathie von Dehn, Clinic Volunteer; Taylor Good, Technologist, St. Mary's.
An innovative partnership between St. Mary’s General Hospital and the YMCA of Three Rivers will bring care closer to home again for patients with pacemakers living in Guelph-Wellington.
Located out of the YMCA of Three River’s Guelph location on Woodland Glen Drive, St. Mary’s Pacemaker Remote Monitoring Clinic is critical to ensure that the pacemaker is working properly. Pacemakers need regular maintenance and monitoring. If a pacemaker fails, it can lead to an increased risk of stroke or heart failure.
“When the pandemic began, we had to pause community-based programs like this for the safety of our patients and team members,” says Al Qahwash, Director, Cardiac and Critical Care at St. Mary’s General Hospital. “Although necessary, our hope was always that this would be a temporary measure and we are so pleased to be able to relaunch this program at the YMCA Three Rivers. Bringing care as close to home as possible for patients is certainly more convenient, but more importantly, ensures that care is equitable and accessible for all our patients,” says Qahwash.
This innovative partnership between St. Mary’s and the YMCA began as a pilot program in 2014 and was the first in Ontario to offer remote monitoring. The program proved highly successful, operating weekly clinics at the Guelph YMCA before the pandemic. The clinic will be offered once a month, beginning Thursday, February 29th, and will grow as demand grows.
“As an organization dedicated to building healthy communities and ensuring equitable access to support individuals' health and well-being, the YMCA is thrilled to once again collaborate with St. Mary’s General Hospital,” says Crystal Hughes, Director, Wellness at the YMCA of Three Rivers. "Our YMCA location in Guelph is an ideal setting for this Clinic because of its convenience, accessibility, and welcoming atmosphere. We are committed to offering a space where individuals feel valued and supported in their journey towards better health," says Hughes.
A pacemaker is a small battery-powered device used to control or increase the heartbeat. This life-saving device is implanted through a minimally invasive procedure to monitor what the heart is doing. If the pacemaker notices that the heart slows down or skips a beat, it sends a small electrical signal through the wires connected to the heart to restore it to its normal rate.
Trained volunteers at St. Mary’s use a wand attached to a tablet to collect the information stored in the pacemaker such as any irregularities with the patient’s heartbeat or the pacemaker itself. A pacemaker monitoring appointment is quick and painless, taking only five to 10 minutes to complete. If anything is detected, the patient is referred for a follow-up appointment, otherwise, they are on their way.
There are more than 200,000 Canadians who have pacemakers or implantable defibrillators. Although anyone including children could have a pacemaker, the majority of Canadians are over the age of 60.
“February is Heart Month, so the timing feels rather appropriate to be able to relaunch this valuable program for our patients. We are so grateful to our partners at the YMCA in Guelph as we work together to eliminate barriers and support heart health in our communities,” says Qahwash.
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More Information:
Dayna Giorgio (she/her)
Director, Strategic Communications, St. Mary’s General Hospital
dgiorgio@smgh.ca | 519-895-6540
Shaminda (Shum) Attygalle (he/him)
Vice President of Marketing & Communications, YMCA of Three Rivers
shum.attygalle@ytr.ymca.ca | 519-574-4644
Background
St. Mary’s General Hospital
Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program and Regional Eye Program. As leaders in our field recognized globally for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of “Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff.
Celebrating a century of care this year, St. Mary’s provides compassionate care to our communities serving over 1.4 residents locally and beyond each year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible. Learn more about Our Mission, Values & History and the future of care.
YMCA of Three Rivers
The YMCA of Three Rivers proudly serves the communities of Guelph-Wellington, Stratford-Perth, and Waterloo Region. As a charity, our mission is to make our diverse communities healthier and more vibrant. With dignity and respect, our programs and services inspire individuals to reach their full potential. Learn more at ymcathreerivers.ca.