Alberta Cardiac Access Collaborative Initiative Objectives

The main objective of the arrhythmia initiative was to increase patient access to arrhythmia services. That objective was met by addressing the following priorities:

Timely access to devices and SVT treatment:
- Referrals for appropriate patients and institutional access
- Training nurse clinicians to use care pathways that will improve access to arrhythmia services for SVT and devices, specifically ICD, CRT and pacemaker implants
- Timely patient access to health care centers
- Transferring patients to other sites should time and resources be available to facilitate timely access

Triaging patients for general consultation,
organization of care and treatment initiation:
- Using nurse clinicians to facilitate assessment investigation, leading to more timely initiation of therapy
- The Nurse Clinician will be responsible and accountable for the assessment, implementation, and evaluation of the care provided under the indirect supervision of the physician. The physician will maintain accountability for the assessment of competence of the Nurse Clinician
- When the clinical situation requires direct physician involvement, the Nurse Clinician works with the physician to facilitate patient care