Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is proud to announce that its Cardio-Oncology Clinic has been designated a worldwide Gold Status Centre of Excellence by the International Cardio-Oncology Society. This recognition highlights the clinic’s commitment to providing exceptional quality care to patients facing the dual challenges of cancer treatment and heart disease.
The International Cardio-Oncology Society awards Gold Status based on a rigorous point system, assessing criteria such as patient volume, research and publications, quality improvement initiatives, committee involvement, program development, and educational contributions.
“Achieving this distinction is a significant accomplishment for SHN and a major milestone for the Scarborough community,” shared Dr. Kibar Yared, Service Lead for Cardiac Diagnostics at SHN. “We are honored to receive international recognition at the highest level for the exceptional care we provide to our patients. I am immensely proud of our dedicated team for reaching this prestigious benchmark.”
Claire Coulson is one of these patients, who was undergoing breast cancer treatment when she began experiencing heart issues due to her chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Her oncologist noticed a decline in her left ejection fraction, a measure of heart function, and referred her to Dr. Yared at SHN’s Cardio-Oncology Clinic.
“I was told Dr. Yared was the best, and my experience at the clinic was nothing short of remarkable. Every time I went to SHN’s General Hospital, it was fantastic,” said Claire.
The clinic team monitored her closely, conducting ultrasounds and EKGs on a more frequent basis, and Dr. Yared’s detailed but plain-language explanations and reassurances made Claire feel confident about her treatment and outcomes.
The impact of the clinic’s care on Claire’s life was profound. Before seeing Dr. Yared, the impaired functionality of her heart resulting from cancer treatment was causing extreme exhaustion. She was sleeping multiple times during the day when she never used to nap. “I’d wake up in the morning and feel like I hadn’t slept. After coming home from getting my son ready and taking him to school, I’d just be completely wiped out. That just wasn’t me. I’m usually busy, busy, busy,” she remembered.
However, after starting heart medication, she noticed a significant improvement. “I wasn’t taking naps anymore and could take my dog on longer walks. And Dr. Yared encouraged me to push myself a little bit each day to get my heart working again. He explained that I shouldn’t just sit back and allow my heart to be dependent on the medication, I needed to get back to being who I was. I felt comfortable pushing myself knowing I had him and his team behind me. Dr. Yared even gave me his phone number and said to give him a shout anytime to talk things through if I ever got nervous,” Claire shared.
Claire’s advice to other patients facing similar health challenges is to stay positive and maintain open communication with their doctors. “Positivity and asking questions have gotten me through this. My hope for everyone is that they get treated at a clinic like this that values open dialogue so much,” she emphasized.
SHN’s Cardio-Oncology Clinic’s Gold Status award is a testament to the dedication and excellence of its team. The clinic continues to set a high standard for patient care, ensuring that individuals like Claire receive the best possible support on their journey to recovery.