For patients in Truro and surrounding communities, specialized cardiac care is now closer than ever. The newly established Colchester Cardiac Clinic at Colchester East Hants Health Centre (CEHHC) reduces travel to Halifax, shortens wait times and improves access to life-saving diagnostics and treatment.
"This clinic isn’t just about convenience—it’s about better patient care," said Denise Aubey, nurse practitioner. "We’ve already seen a significant impact—we’re reducing hospital readmissions, identifying urgent conditions early, allowing for rapid intervention, and ensuring patients receive the follow-up they need, when they need it."
The clinic focuses on heart failure and acute coronary syndrome patients, providing timely follow-up, adjustments to outpatient medication, and education to help patients manage their health and avoid hospital stays. The clinic also connects high-acuity patients directly to hospital care when needed, ensuring they receive immediate treatment without delays.
The clinic works closely with essential cardiac services to help physicians make faster diagnoses and treatment decisions. With the recent equipment funding from the CEHHC Foundation, the clinic is preparing to introduce stress echocardiography—an advanced, non-invasive test that assesses heart function under stress. Currently, patients needing this service must travel to Halifax, facing the challenges of long drives, tolls, parking and time away from home while managing a serious health condition.
"This clinic is centralized, allowing us to blend services in one area and provide seamless care," said Eliza Cochrane, cardiovascular coordinator. "By working together, we’ve streamlined referrals, maximized appointments and ultimately improved patient outcomes."
The establishment of the clinic was made possible through the generous support of the CEHHC Foundation, which committed approximately $308,000 to fund essential equipment. Thanks to donor contributions, the clinic now has two new stress testing treadmills, a new ultrasound bed and stretcher, a state-of-the-art echocardiography unit and a Lumify portable cardiac ultrasound system, which allows bedside imaging for faster diagnosis.
By bringing high-quality, timely cardiac care to residents of Colchester County, the clinic reduces stress, improves access and helps patients manage their heart health close to home. It also serves as a central point of contact where patients can ask questions and receive guidance about their care.
As of Feb. 12, the clinic has seen 81 individual patients and 27 follow-up appointments, for a total of 108 visits.
Photo of (L-R) Denise Aubey, nurse practitioner; Dr. Jagmohan Singh, internal medicine; Dr. Kris Srivatsa, internal medicine; Dr. Adil Bata, cardiologist; and Laura Bervkens, nurse practitioner.
