Join us for virtual Youth, Kids and Caregiver Groups starting January 2023 (groups postponed, date TBD)
Youth Coping Skills Group
Would you like to connect and hang out with other youth dealing with a cardiovascular issue, just like you? Would you like to learn how to deal with stress, worries and anxiety more easily? Join our Youth Support Group to connect, share and explore how we can feel better and more at ease in our mind, our body and our everyday lives.
Learn more about the Youth Coping Skills Group Together we will explore simple, proven and easy to apply tools from mindfulness, yoga, Tai chi, cognitive behavioural therapy and deep breath work – all geared towards making YOU feel more joyful, confident and at ease. We will also chat about growing up with a chronic condition and about how to prepare for becoming your own best caregiver when transitioning into adult care. This group is led by Inga Bohnekamp.
Inga will guide you through all of these practices with a lot of compassion, lightness and ease. Come as you are and join us as we connect, share and explore how we can feel better and more at ease in our mind, our body and our everyday lives.
Learn more about your group leader: Igna Bohnekamp Program Director: Inga Bohnekamp (Dipl.-Psych.) Inga has studied Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), yoga and mindfulness in Europe, Canada and the USA. Before moving to Canada she has, among others, worked as a clinical psychologist and Eating Disorder Treatment researcher at the Child and Youth Psychiatry Division of the renowned Charité University Hospital in Berlin.
Inga has a wealth of experience providing counselling services and therapy to children, youth, families, and parents presenting with a broad range of chronic physical illnesses and chronic pain as well mental illness such as eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, anxiety and trauma. She also provides therapeutic yoga and mindfulness to clients of all ages.
Inga is the creator of the “MAPLE MINDS Program for Kids and Teens with Chronic Illness and Pain” which she has developed in cooperation with CHEO and the “MindBodyFeel Program” which she has developed in cooperation with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
She also functions as a Child and Youth Yoga therapy Professor at the Children’s Yoga Academy in Europe where she regularly trains health care providers and teachers from different European countries in her Mind Body Emotion focused approach and has published several books on coping, yoga and mindfulness related topics for children and teens.
Eligibility and sign-up
Jan 17 to Feb 14, 5-6pm on Zoom
There are no special requirements to join this group.
Our Youth Group is open to youth ages 13 and up. Sessions will run on Tuesdays, 5-6pm, via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link closer to the start date and after your registration has been approved.
Thanks to generous funding groups will be offered free of charge.
To sign up, please contact Karen Degagne, Social Worker, Division of Cardiology and CV Surgery:
- Phone: 613-737-7600-3641
- Email: Kdegagne@cheo.on.ca
Kids Coping Skills Group
Would you like to get to know and hang out with other kids dealing with a cardiovascular issue, just like you? Would you like to learn how to deal with stress and anxiety more easily? How to manage worries around your health? How to easier deal with pain? Sleep better? – Or all of it?
Join our Kids Support Group to connect, share and explore how we can feel better and more at ease in our mind, our body and our everyday lives.
Learn more about the Kids Coping Skills Group Together we will try out and practice fun and easy to apply strategies from mindfulness, yoga, Tai chi, cognitive behavioural therapy and breathing work – all geared towards making YOU feel more happy, confident and at ease.
We will also chat about growing up with a chronic condition, and how we can take care of ourselves. There are no special requirements for our group. Inga will guide you through all of these practices with a lot of compassion, lightness and ease.
Learn more about your group leader: Igna Bohnekamp Inga has studied Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), yoga and mindfulness in Europe, Canada and the USA. Before moving to Canada she has, among others, worked as a clinical psychologist and Eating Disorder Treatment researcher at the Child and Youth Psychiatry Division of the renowned Charité University Hospital in Berlin.
Inga has a wealth of experience providing counselling services and therapy to children, youth, families, and parents presenting with a broad range of chronic physical illnesses and chronic pain as well mental illness such as eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, anxiety and trauma. She also provides therapeutic yoga and mindfulness to clients of all ages.
Inga is the creator of the “MAPLE MINDS Program for Kids and Teens with Chronic Illness and Pain” which she has developed in cooperation with CHEO and the “MindBodyFeel Program” which she has developed in cooperation with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
She also functions as a Child and Youth Yoga therapy Professor at the Children’s Yoga Academy in Europe where she regularly trains health care providers and teachers from different European countries in her Mind Body Emotion focused approach and has published several books on coping, yoga and mindfulness related topics for children and teens.
Eligibility and sign-up
Jan 17 to Feb 14, 4-5pm on ZoomWe keep our groups small. Spots will be limited so make sure to save yours NOW! Our Kids Group is open to kids ages 8 and up.
Sessions will run on Tuesdays, 4-5-pm via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link closer to the start date and after your registration has been approved.
Thanks to generous funding our groups will be offered free of charge.
To sign up, please contact Karen Degagne, Social Worker, Division of Cardiology and CV Surgery:
- Phone: 613-737-7600-3641
- Email: Kdegagne@cheo.on.ca
Caregiver Support Group
As caregivers, especially when caring for a loved one with a severe illness or special needs, it can be easy to forget to take time for yourself and care for your own well-being. In response to many family requests over the years, CHEO launched its very own Caregiver Support Group.
Learn more about the Caregiver Support Group When is the last time you’ve checked in with yourself to see how you’re doing, the last time you’ve intentionally done something to recharge your own batteries, the last time you’ve taken a moment for a couple of really nice long deep breaths? If it’s been a while you’re not alone. That's why we've launched our first Cardiology and CV Surgery Caregiver Support Group, based on family feedback.
This group is your opportunity for taking a moment to connect with other caregivers “in the same boat”, to recharge your own batteries with simple, proven and easy to apply tools including mindfulness, yoga, Tai chi, cognitive behavioural therapy and deep breath work led by Inga Bohnekamp.
Learn more about your group leader: Igna Bohnekamp Inga has studied Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), yoga and mindfulness in Europe, Canada and the USA. Before moving to Canada she has, among others, worked as a clinical psychologist and Eating Disorder Treatment researcher at the Child and Youth Psychiatry Division of the renowned Charité University Hospital in Berlin.
Inga has a wealth of experience providing counselling services and therapy to children, youth, families, and parents presenting with a broad range of chronic physical illnesses and chronic pain as well mental illness such as eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, anxiety and trauma. She also provides therapeutic yoga and mindfulness to clients of all ages.
Inga is the creator of the “MAPLE MINDS Program for Kids and Teens with Chronic Illness and Pain” which she has developed in cooperation with CHEO and the “MindBodyFeel Program” which she has developed in cooperation with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
She also functions as a Child and Youth Yoga therapy Professor at the Children’s Yoga Academy in Europe where she regularly trains health care providers and teachers from different European countries in her Mind Body Emotion focused approach and has published several books on coping, yoga and mindfulness related topics for children and teens.
Eligibility and sign-up
Jan 18 to Feb 15, noon-1pm on ZOOMWe keep our groups small. Spots will be limited so make sure to save yours NOW!
Our Caregiver Group is open to caregivers of Cardiology/CV Surgery patients of all age groups. Sessions will run on Wednesdays from noon-1pm, via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link closer to the start date and after your registration has been approved.
Thanks to generous funding our groups will be offered free of charge.
To sign up, please contact Karen Degagne, Social Worker, Division of Cardiology and CV Surgery:
- Phone: 613-737-7600-3641
- Email: Kdegagne@cheo.on.ca
About the Cardiology Clinic
The Department of Cardiology provides a complete range of diagnostic and treatment services including fetal cardiology consultations, testing and follow-up appointments. Learn more about the services and support we offer below.
Location and hours
Clinic C-18, Third floor, Room 3302
Cardiology (C-18), CHEO
401 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1
Clinic Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (except holidays).
Requesting and preparing for your appointment
To make an appointment with a cardiologist, your pediatrician, family physician or another physician-specialist must refer you. All referrals are reviewed and appointments are scheduled based on the urgency of the case.
If this is an urgent referral requiring an assessment in less than 48 hours, the referring physician must call CHEO’s main number (613-737-7600) and page the Cardiologist on service.
Make a referral
How does the referral process work? |
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The referring physician provides information about the patient to the Cardiology Department. This information is then reviewed and used to decide the appropriate time to be seen by a Cardiologist. Because of this, the Division of Cardiology cannot guarantee an appointment within a specific period of time. Patients are notified directly either by phone or by mail of their appointment time. If no one is at home at the time of the call, a message is left to call the Cardiology Department to confirm the appointment.
Cardiology will contact the referring physician if there are special instructions for the family and patient regarding their visit. |
Make a referral |
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Cardiology Clinic referral form Please have your physician fill out the referral form and mail or fax it to:
Please include with your referral:
Please indicate on the referral if an interpreter is required and for which language if not English or French. It is the referring physician’s responsibility to notify the patient and family of their referral to CHEO. |
Referral criteria for specialized testing |
| Download the cardiology Clinic Referral Form and have your physician fill it out and send to us.
Echocardiograms (ECHO's) are provided on a limited basis without prior cardiac consultation. Generally, this is appropriate when a specific diagnosis is being considered i.e. Marfan’s Syndrome. ECG’s are available upon request by physician referral. Bring the following with you to your appointment:
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About your appointment
What should I bring for my clinic appointment? |
NOTE: If your child requires antibiotics prior to procedures i.e dental surgery because of his or her heart problem, the cardiologist or the nurse will inform you. Written information is given to you, which reviews indications for antibiotic use. The dentist or family physician prescribes the antibiotics for your child. |
What can my child bring from home? |
| A bottle or soother is helpful for an infant. We do offer video or DVD movies as a distraction in the reception area and for echocardiogram testing only. We encourage you to bring along a favorite toy, blanket, storybook or movie to help your child remain relaxed. |
What to bring to my exercise test? |
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Bring shorts/jogging pants, running shoes and a bottle of water with you.
Do not have a heavy meal within 2 hours before the test but do have a snack 1 hour before e.g.: soup, juice, fruit or granola bar. |
Cardiology clinics and programs
Pediatric Cardiology clinic |
| A visit to the clinic will begin with an initial assessment by one of the cardiology nurses. Because CHEO is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, your visit may also include an initial assessment by a senior medical student or pediatric resident (a doctor who is doing special training to become a pediatric doctor) prior to seeing the cardiologist. Depending upon what tests are required, your visit may take up to two hours. Most new patients will not require any testing on their initial visit. |
Arrhythmia clinic |
| In the CHEO Arrhythmia Clinic, we care for children and youth who have problems with their heart rhythm (or heart beat). We also care for children who are at risk for heart rhythm problems. Some of these problems run in families, so we use the specific expertise to carefully assess children and teenagers to see if they also have the condition. |
Pacemaker clinic |
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The Pacemaker Clinic is scheduled several times a month for routine follow-up. Previously seen patients and their families can call the Nursing Line (613-737-7600 ext. 3109) with questions concerning the child’s pacemaker or other health issues.
When your child’s heart needs a pacemaker, it is inserted to relieve symptoms of heart rhythm disturbances. It does this by restoring normal heart rates. Regular follow-up clinic visits ensure the pacemaker is working properly.
During your child’s visit, a small computer is used to read information inside the pacemaker. The first step is to apply 5 stickers attached to 5 leads (insulated wires), which connect with the small computer. Then, a special pacemaker magnet is placed on the skin over your child’s pacemaker. Many parts of the pacemaker are checked during these visits including the pacemaker settings, the battery status and the leads.
Many of the pacemaker’s functions can be adjusted or programmed by the pacemaker doctor or nurse to meet your child’s needs and to help the system last as long as possible.
During this appointment you may also be scheduled for an ECG and/or Holter. X–rays are also routinely requested at this time. |
Satellite and outreach clinics |
| The Cardiology Department performs outreach clinics to Iqualuit, Baffin Island once to twice a year. Children with suspected and known heart disease from the communities of Nunavut can receive full cardiac evaluations during these clinics, often saving them a more extensive trip to Ottawa. |
Fearless physical activity |
| The Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance is proud to present the Fearless Physical Activity event series to Ontarians living with congenital heart disease. Fearless Physical Activity is designed to provide you and your family the opportunity to try fun physical activities available in your local community. Each season, multiple Fearless Physical Activity events will be held across the province. Come learn about fun ways to integrate physical activity into your lifestyle! |
Maple Minds |
| Maple Minds is a mindfulness, yoga and relaxation group program to help manage chronic disease. Learn more about our Maple Minds Program and how it can help your family. |
Summer Camp |
| The 2019 summer camp approved for cardiac kids, running from August 12th to August 16th, is a great opportunity for kids with various cardiac conditions to have fun, experience camp life, meet new friends, and make wonderful memories, all while in a safe environment. This 1-week day camp will be filled with activities such as canoeing, climbing wall, swimming, high ropes course, crafts and outdoor group activities, all adaptable according to the child’s health. An open-door day, for the whole family, will take place on May 26th, 2019. You’ll be able to learn more about the opportunity as well as meet other families. For more information and/or to register, please contact Angelica Blais by email at ablais@cheo.on.ca. |
About the team
About the team |
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The Department of Cardiology is made up of six full time pediatric cardiologists and a team of health care professionals. Our team includes social workers, technologists and more. During your visit, you may meet:
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Frequently asked questions
What if my child suffers from palpitations? |
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| Palpitations or the sensation of rapid or forceful heartbeat is a common symptom in children. If the episodes are brief and go away on their own they generally do not require treatment. It should be noted that children can obtain very fast heart rates with exercise or excitement. The sensation of rapid heart rate that comes on progressively with exercise and gradually settles at rest is likely normal. Rapid heartbeat associated with fainting is a concern. | ||||||||
Questions about heart murmurs |
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What are chest pains? |
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| Chronic, recurrent chest pain in children is rarely related to the heart. Most chest pain in children comes from the chest muscles or the small joints between the ribs. Chest pain that occurs at rest and with exercise is generally benign. Pain that is described as “sharp” or “stabbing” is also less of a concern particularly if it is made worse by a deep breath. Pain occurring in association with meals may be caused by a common condition called gastroesophageal reflux, the result of stomach acid coming back up the swallowing tube. | ||||||||
What should I know about bacterial endocarditis? |
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| Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the inside lining of the heart or the heart valves. It is a serious but rare complication in some children with heart defects. It may occur after certain procedures, such as dental work. For cardiac patients with certain types of heart defects, a preventative dose (1 dose) of antibiotics may be prescribed prior to the procedure to decrease the chance of such an infection. Your cardiologist will be able to discuss with you whether your child requires this type of antibiotic treatment. | ||||||||
How do I access CHEO cardiac satellite clinics? |
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| Normally the satellite clinics are organized for specific times in coordination with the regional hospital. Once families are referred, they have the option of seeing the cardiologist in Baffin Island, or seeing the cardiologist in Ottawa at CHEO. | ||||||||
As a patients, where can I direct my questions? |
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New patients who have been referred to a cardiologist at CHEO but have not yet been seen will need to call their family physician if they have questions about their child’s health. Until a cardiologist sees your child, your family physician or pediatrician remains the most knowledgeable about your child’s health. That is different once the child has seen a cardiologist.
For patients previously seen at the Clinic, inquiries can be directed to the Nursing Line at 613-737-7600, ext. 3109. |
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What will happen during our cardiac clinic visit? |
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Your appointment may last between two and three hours. During your clinic visit, we will:
If your child or teen has tests during this visit, your cardiologist will discuss the results with you before |
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How can I renew a prescription? |
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| Don’t forget to ask for prescription renewals at your appointment. | ||||||||
What can I expect from electrophysiology testing? |
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We perform these tests:
These tests are performed to assess your child’s heart’s electrical system or activity and are used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia. Stickers will be applied to the skin, the technicians performing the test have different ways to remove stickers as pain free as possible. |
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What is your policy on taking photos in the clinic? |
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| Please ask about our hospital policy before taking pictures in the clinic.It is not permitted to take pictures of testing. Written consent is required to take pictures of staff. |
Cardiology testing
Electrophysiology |
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This is a simple investigation that measures the electrical activity of the heart. A variety of electrophysiology testing performed at CHEO includes:
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Echocardiogram (Echo) |
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This is an examination of the heart by ultrasound. There is no radiation or risk involved in the procedure. It is used to detect structural and functional abnormalities, enlargement or inflammation of the heart, and other conditions. The test takes approximately 45 minutes. Generally, children between 3 months and 3 years of age require sedation in order to lie still for the procedure. A variety of specialized studies performed at CHEO includes:
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Cardiac catheterization (Cath) |
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| Cardiac Catherization is a specialized procedure used to look inside your child's heart with the use of a special X-ray machine. This procedure is generally performed with anesthesia.
Catherizations are performed upon the request of your cardiologist. Prior to the procedure, your child will be seen in the pre-assessment unit and meet with the interventional cardiologist. Cases are booked according to urgency as determined by the cardiology team. Diagnostic (investigative) and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures are conducted at CHEO:
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Interventional catheterization |
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Need more information?
Visit the cardiology resource section to learn about a variety of health topics for children and youth and access CHEO recommended websites, books, apps, videos and more!
Resources and support