In the practice of medicine, certain individuals stand out not just for their expertise but for their unwavering dedication to the patient experience. In honour of Patient Experience Week, we celebrate healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers who exemplify a commitment to excellence in patient care.

Getting to the heart of the matter: With a focus on patient-driven care, CANet develops a secure and interactive digital platform to help Canadians improve their heart health. Heart disease continues to be a leading cause of death in Canada, affecting women and men across all demographics. While most of us understand heart disease to be a major cause of heart attacks, the reality is that the disease is responsible for a host of other ailments, including heart rhythm disorders, blood clots, strokes and even the loss of extremities (like fingers and toes) due to poor blood flow. Preventing heart disease But there is hope. Heart disease is not only avoidable but also manageable. “The good news is that all of these issues are preventable,” says Dr. Anthony Tang, CEO & Scientific Director of the Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet). “Science has progressed to the point that even if you have these conditions — there are really good treatments. “ The key to preventing heart disease is to address key risk factors. According to Dr. Tang, major contributors to poor heart health include smoking (which includes cannabis), obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. He emphasizes that prioritizing wellness by...

Up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke cases are preventable through healthy lifestyle behaviours and habits. Here are 10 tips to help strengthen your heart health: 1. Add plant foods to your diet.1 Focusing on what you CAN’T eat isn’t always an effective way to alter your eating habits. The recently published “Portfolio Diet” is an evidence-based eating plan centered on what you can ADD to your menu. The diet incorporates nuts & seeds, plant protein, fiber, plant sterols, and oils – all of which help to lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Click here to access the Portfolio Diet info-graphic.   2. Get moving.2 When done regularly, moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity lowers your blood pressure and improves your blood cholesterol. A nutritious diet and physical activity in combination can help you to maintain a heart-healthy weight.   3. Stop smoking.3 Tobacco use increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Smoking contributes to plaque buildup in your arteries, increases the risk of blood clots, reduces the oxygen in your blood, and makes your heart work harder. The benefits of quitting smoking begin to take effect immediately after your last cigarette and within...

A landmark study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has demonstrated the superiority of catheter ablation over antiarrhythmic drug therapy for patients with ventricular tachycardia, a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Conducted by the VANISH2 Study Team with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet), this research represents a significant advancement in arrhythmia management. It highlights the role of Canadian innovation in global healthcare. Key Findings and Clinical Impact The international study compared the standard treatment for suppressing these dangerous rhythms with antiarrhythmic drugs against catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that targets and neutralizes abnormal heart tissue causing short circuits in the electric system of the heart. Results showed that catheter ablation reduced the incidence of recurrent arrhythmias and death more effectively than drug therapy. Furthermore, patients undergoing ablation did not have an increase in severe side effects, highlighting its potential to improve the quality of life for those battling ventricular tachycardia. Focusing on safety and efficacy, the VANISH2 team noted that ablation provides long-term benefits by directly addressing the underlying electrical disturbances in the heart. These findings suggest a paradigm shift in treatment approaches, positioning catheter ablation as...

Enrollment has commenced for a groundbreaking national study that will help revolutionize cardiovascular care. Anyone who has or may have a cardiovascular condition is welcome to participate. “VIRTUES equips healthcare providers with the up-to-date medical information about each patient, offering specific recommendations and various options to ensure the best possible care,” explains Dr. Anthony Tang, Scientific Director, and CEO of CANet. “The platform also educates patients on the rationale behind these recommendations, fostering a deeper understanding of their treatment.” VIRTUES is holistic digital health solution designed around Care Sets, each focusing on a specific condition. For patients with co-morbidities—multiple concurrent conditions—several Care Sets can be enabled simultaneously, working together to provide comprehensive treatment. New Care Sets can be added at any time, ensuring the platform’s continuous growth and adaptability. The goal is to improve and optimize patient-specific guideline-based therapy, outcomes, and health-care providers’ efficiency. “Our healthcare system in Canada faces sustainability challenges, and many patients struggle to receive adequate care due to geographic barriers, especially in rural regions,” says Dr. Ratika Parkash, Associate Scientific Director at CANet. “VIRTUES has the potential to reach every Canadian, regardless of location, ethnicity, or other barriers.” VIRTUES is a transformative initiative aimed at providing...

Amid the constantly changing healthcare and research landscape, CANet remains committed to supporting efforts to combine Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of doing with Western science. CANet aims to help improve care practices and health outcomes for Indigenous peoples in Canada. “We want to see equal, patient-oriented care, at the highest level, for everyone.” Dr. Anthony Tang, CANet CEO & Scientific Director In pursuit of the goals established in a previous ceremony near St. Philips, Pewaseskwan, in partnership with CANet, the Canadian Heart Function (CHF) Alliance, Brain-Heart Interconnectome, supported the establishment of Mitewekan, a council of Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Holders, Indigenous health leaders, and people with lived experience of cardiac conditions and allies from across the nation. Mitewekan ᒥᑌᐍᑲᐣ – Cree meaning “the spirit behind the heartbeat.” An Elder gifted the group the name in ceremony on Treaty 6 Territory at Mistawasis First Nation. It reflects connections, the spirit of community, and the significance of the heartbeat that unites us all. Mitewekan guides research alliances and healthcare organizations on the contextualization and adaptation required for culturally safe and responsive cardiovascular clinical practice and research. Recently, Mitewekan worked alongside artist Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie, a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First...

The Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet) is transforming health care for patients across the country through a holistic, comprehensive digital platform. “VIRTUES is a digital health platform for patients and caregivers to implement guidelines and expert-driven care,” says Dr. Anthony Tang, Scientific Director and CEO of CANet, the organization that initiated the VIRTUES project. Tang, who is also one of many investigators in the development of VIRTUES, says their online system aims to empower people to learn more about their heart conditions and engage in the best management of their health issue together with their health-care providers. VIRTUES consists of a series of Care Sets which focus on specific conditions. As patients may have co-morbidities, meaning when a patient has more than one disease or condition concurrently, several Care Sets can be enabled at the same time and work in tandem to ensure the best possible treatment. In addition, new Care Sets can be added at any time allowing continuous expansion of VIRTUES. “VIRTUES will provide the health-care provider with the up-to-date medical information about the individual person and give patient specific recommendations with options to the providers to consider implementing the best care,” Tang explains. He adds the platform also provides personalized education on...

The First Nations, Inuits and Métis theme is led by Dr. Malcolm King, a member of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and Dr. Alexandra King, a member of the Nipissing First Nation (Ontario), both from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SASK, Canada. The CHF Alliance focuses on reconciliation research. Using etuaptmumk (Two-eyed Seeing)(1), we seek to interweave Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing with Western science and to work with Indigenous peoples to improve the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of HF. The vision is to find the harmonies between Indigenous and Western approaches to create sustainable, community-centered, culture-based approaches to HF research and care. Mitewekan – Indigenous advisory council Through to the establishment of Mitewekan (Cree word meaning “The spirit behind the heartbeat”), the network will reconceptualize HF to reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and being (2), and work with Indigenous people to learn how to best to incorporate Indigenous ways of doing in the prevention and care of HF. Mitewekan is a partnership between the Pewaseskwan Indigenous Wellness Research Group at the University of Saskatchewan, The Key First Nation, the Yorkton Tribal Council, the Cardiovascular Network of Canada (CANet) and the CHF Alliance. It’s made up...

This non-profit is leading the way when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, not only within its direct network, but with patients. Women’s visibility for their contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has gradually improved over the years as governments, academic institutions, and businesses put funding into their equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. For years, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have been predominantly male-dominated fields. It’s a trend that organizations like CANet — the Cardiovascular Network of Canada — are working to change, recognizing the significant barriers to entry that underrepresented groups not only face when joining these industries, but the role representation and equity must have in critical research and moving the fields forward. This vision isn’t new for CANet, who have been working to embed equity into their network for many years. “We want to turn the tides in what has been historically, a male-dominated field,” says Dr. Anthony Tang, Cardiologist and CEO, Scientific Director of CANet. We want to see equal, patient-oriented care, at the highest level, for everyone. Dr. Anthony Tang CANet, a non-profit, was established nearly a decade ago, built with the aim of promoting research and development in the cardiovascular...

"Working in the military, you get to a breaking point from time to time, and so I had taken up hockey to get my mind in check. I told people how much it was helping, and then on January 10th, 2016, I had my heart attack at 38 years old."