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Canadian Hospital Cardiac Services 2026 — Cath Lab, Cardiac Surgery & Rehab Guide
Complete guide to Canadian hospital cardiac services — cardiac catheterisation lab, cardiac surgery, coronary care unit (CCU), cardiac rehabilitation, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines, cardiac wait times, and cardiac software.
CVD is the #2 cause of death in Canada (20%). 1.6M+ Canadians have heart disease. CCS sets national guidelines. This guide covers Canadian cardiac services.
Cardiac Service Levels
| Level | Description | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Primary PCI centre | 24/7 primary PCI for STEMI | Cath lab, interventional cardiologist |
| Cardiac surgery centre | CABG, valve surgery | Cardiac surgery, CPB |
| Cardiac centre (non-surgical) | Cath lab, non-surgical PCI | Diagnostic and elective PCI |
| General hospital | CCU, cardiac monitoring | No cath lab, transfer for PCI |
STEMI Pathway
- Recognition: ECG identifies STEMI
- Activation: Activate cath lab (code STEMI)
- Transfer: Transfer to primary PCI centre (target < 90 min door-to-balloon)
- PCI: Primary PCI in cath lab
- Post-PCI: CCU admission, dual antiplatelet, statin, beta-blocker, ACEi
- Cardiac rehab: Refer to cardiac rehab programme
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cardiac burden in Canada?
- CVD is the #2 cause of death in Canada (20% of deaths). 1.6M+ Canadians have heart disease. Key statistics: 1) AMI — 70,000 per year, 2. Heart failure — 750,000 Canadians, 3. AF — 350,000 Canadians, 4. Stroke — 50,000 per year. CVD costs $22B+ per year. Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) publishes national guidelines.
- What are Canadian cardiac wait times?
- Canadian cardiac wait times (CIHI): 1) CABG — 2-8 weeks (urgent), 8-26 weeks (elective), 2. Angiography — 2-4 weeks (urgent), 4-12 weeks (elective), 3. PCI — same day (STEMI), 2-8 weeks (elective), 4. Valve surgery — 8-26 weeks. Provincial targets vary. Cardiac wait times are publicly reported in most provinces.
- What is cardiac rehab in Canada?
- Canadian cardiac rehab: 1) Structured exercise programme, 2. Education (heart health, medications, lifestyle), 3. Psychosocial support, 4. Risk factor modification. CCS recommends cardiac rehab for all eligible patients. Only ~30% of eligible Canadians access cardiac rehab. Provincial funding varies. Home-based cardiac rehab (virtual) is expanding.