I hate going to the hospital. Like HATE it. It’s an irrational feeling, but the building just feels ominous to me. But ever had chest pain so bad that you thought you should see a doctor? I did once and thought I was on the brink of a heart attack!
The doctor didn’t think it was serious, though. Still, he referred me to a cardiologist. Luckily, it turned out to be a mild musculoskeletal issue. But for sure, I wouldn’t have known without getting checked. Heart specialists are really here for a reason.
That’s why I’m glad I found some pretty amazing cardiologists in Vancouver. I also reviewed them with the help of family and friends! Check out our notes to help you care for your heart too.
How We Chose
1. Vancouver General Hospital
Address: Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
Contact Details: +1 604-875-4111 (General Info & Visiting Hours), +1 604-875-4300 (Admissions)
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) is a beacon of hope for heart health in the city. For us, its specialized clinics are like a one-stop-shop for anything cardiac-related.
Take its cardiology stat clinic, for example. It’s famous for its top-notch long-term monitoring using fancy gadgets like Holter monitors and blood pressure trackers.
But we think VGH isn’t just about keeping tabs. It covers everything from aortic valve issues to atrial fibrillation, along with cardiac oncology, heart failure management, and the like. That’s a lot of heart issues the specialists can cover!
And boy, do they deserve all the applause they get. We find it amazing that Newsweek showered VGH with praise in its “World’s Best Hospitals 2020” list, notching it among the top 25 in Canada and the elite 200 worldwide for cardiac care.
Got a referral? We love that the clinic will whisk you in pronto, aiming to get you seen within a mere 2 to 4 weeks. Just remember that slots fill up fast, so make sure your case is as urgent as it feels.
But finding your way to the clinic might be confusing. Note that the entrance is on the corner of 12th Avenue and Oak Street (not the Diamond Centre main entrance on Laurel). And if you need an ECG on the fly, swing by between 8:30 am and 3:55 pm.
As for parking, there are 2 lots at your disposal, including one right by the Jim Pattison Pavilion and another at the Diamond Health Care Centre. We reckon you’ll be rolling in hassle-free!
Pros
- Comprehensive cardiac care in one location
- Advanced monitoring technology
- Quick appointment scheduling
- Convenient parking options
Cons
- Tricky entrance location
- Limited availability for urgent cases
Customer Reviews
Best Place for the Heart
“Best place to go for heart problems. Great doctors and staffs at the ER.”
-Mr. John Leong, Google Review
Felt Like I Was in Good Hands
“At 2:30am this morning I was rushed to VGH Emergency with an acute case of heart arrhythmia. The paramedics and VGH staff were professional, courteous, informative, and expedient. I felt that was in good hands. Great teamwork.”
-vizmatter, Google Review
2. St. Paul’s Hospital
Address: 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
Contact Details: +1 604-806-9090
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Right in the “heart” of downtown, St. Paul’s Hospital has that cool mix of teaching, research, and emergency care. Its very own Providence Health Care Heart Centre is like the heart HQ for anyone in BC dealing with heart stuff.
From preventing cardiac issues to doing tests like ECGs or diving into surgeries and transplants, we love that this place has it all! It’s also got extra services to keep your heart in check, like rehab and mood checks.
Moreover, you know it’s legit when Newsweek gives it a shoutout on their “World’s Best Hospitals 2020” list. Yup, it’s also a regular in Canada’s top 25 hospitals, like VGH!
And if you’re worried about getting home after your visit, no worries! We love that the folks there can set you up with a social worker who can sort out a ride.
Just a heads up, though. If you’re hitting the ER, there tends to be quite a queue, so you might be in the waiting area for a bit.
Pros
- Convenient location in downtown
- Many services from prevention to surgeries
- Offers holistic care with rehab and mood checks
- Helps arrange rides home
Cons
- Long ER wait times
Customer Reviews
Excellent Job
“Last week I was admitted to St. Paul’s for an ablation which is a procedure performed inside the heart. All of the nursing staff, as well as the doctors were friendly, empathetic and made me feel at ease. After hearing and seeing some of the horrible patients they have to deal with there, I have even more respect for them then I already had. Dr Yeung performed my ablation and with any luck it was successful, only time will tell. Their staff did an excellent job as far as I’m concerned and recommend the Heart Centre at St. Paul’s to everyone in need of medical services for their heart.”
-Mr. Adam Blender, Google Review
5 Stars
“I must give this hospital at least a five star review since I’ve been told that the paramedics actually saved my life there in 2021 when I went in with heart problems. It’s quite disturbing for me to think of it now considering how perfectly normal I feel. I could complain about other things such as an increasing lack of a callback when I leave a message. But this place really came through for me in the crunch. And of course, that should be the same for anyone at any hospital.”
-Mr. Jim, Google Review
3. Pulse Cardiac Centre
Address: 777 W Broadway #1108, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7, Canada
Contact Details: +1 604-736-6441
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Pulse Cardiac Centre is a leading cardiovascular clinic in Vancouver. It specializes in heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors, providing comprehensive care.
The team includes cardiologists, exercise physiologists, a dietitian, technologists, and patient care coordinators. For us, this ensures a well-rounded treatment for everyone.
They treat many conditions, like atherosclerosis, angina, heart attacks, arrhythmias, heart failure, and post-surgery recovery. The diagnostic services also include ECGs, Holter monitors, stress tests, and 24-hour BP monitors for thorough evaluations.
But a standout feature for us is the Pulse Fit Rx Cardiac Rehab program, which offers personalized exercise, diet plans, and health education overseen by a cardiologist. We think the more you know, the better you can prevent heart issues.
For us, it’s very helpful that the specialists here really focus on the importance of lifestyle changes to support the medications and procedures. We also like that they can refer to specialists when needed.
And in our opinion, the patients can benefit from close monitoring and beautiful mountain views during rehab sessions.
The only drawback we saw is that the centre is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so it’s smart to plan your visits accordingly.
Pros
- Multidisciplinary team
- Focus on lifestyle changes
- Personalized cardiac rehab program
- Stunning mountain sights during rehab
Cons
- Unavailable on weekends
Customer Reviews
Knowledgeable, Personable, and Thorough
“I have seen both Dr. Rosenberg and Alex, the cardiac tech and found both to be very knowledgeable, personable, and thorough in their assessment. The office and all their diagnostic equipment appeared to be brand new and modern.”
-j f, Google Review
Very Good
“Just visited the facilities, very good.”
-Mr. Paulo Milagre, Google Review
4. North Shore Heart Group
Address: 400-1133 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2H4, Canada
Contact Details: +1 604-980-1031
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Among the best heart care centers in Vancouver is the North Shore Heart Centre, led by Dr. Vyselaar. We heard he’s among the go-to guys for serious heart cases.
For us, it’s pretty mind-blowing that he’s the lone wolf doing transesophageal echo and fighting for echo contrast use. It involves inserting a probe down the throat into the esophagus to get a close-up view of the heart’s structure and function.
We find it impressive that the clinic covers all the bases: general and private consultations, stress tests, and Holter monitoring. And the clinic’s got this cool ambulatory blood pressure thing for accurate readings.
Also, we reckon sports buffs will dig his sports cardiology gig! He’s all up in the mix with teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps and BC Lions. For us, his spot on the American College of Cardiology’s Sports and Exercise Executive shows he knows his stuff.
Besides the face-to-face stuff, he’s got telemedicine in the bag as well! In our opinion, having all these options makes it way easier to get your concerns across.
We’re also reassured that the staff keeps an eye on wait times and cancellations daily to fit in more patients. Just note that parking can be a pain, so we think it’s better to go for appointments earlier in the day.
Pros
- Experienced in serious heart cases
- Knowledgeable in sports cardiology
- With 1-on-1, group sessions, and telemedicine
- Efficient scheduling
Cons
- Appointments may fill up fast
- Challenging parking
Customer Reviews
Easiest Guy to Talk to
“Dr. Vyselaar – he is the most easiest guy to speak to and actually listens to what you have to say. He is a kind and gentle and very Professional Cardiologist. I cannot recommend him high enough to anyone. His staff are courteous and I do enjoy my visits to that office as know I’m in the best hands.”
-Ms. Helen Lockhart, Google Review
The Best One I’ve Had
“I’ve had numerous heart/ pacemaker doctors and Dr Vyslelaar is by far the best one I’ve had. The clinic staff is very friendly as well.”
-Mr. Chris Esau, Google Review
5. Heart Fit Clinic Vancouver
Address: 1126 Douglas Rd #106, Burnaby, BC V5C 4Z6, Canada
Contact Details: +1 604-330-4348
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Heart Fit Clinic has been a top spot in Vancouver for heart rehab and prevention. In our opinion, this option can even go above and beyond what your average doctor can offer.
We think the team here’s solid with screening tests, nailing down your risk for disease. The folks here are all about helping patients grow new arteries, aiming to dodge stents or surgery whenever possible.
What’s cool for us is that this clinic fills a gap in healthcare, offering assessments that your family doc might miss. The team here sees arteries as muscles, not just pipes, which we reckon is a fresh take compared to regular cardiologists.
Plus, it’s got Harvard-born ECP treatment, rehab workouts, and heart-healthy eats. And here’s the kicker for us: no need for a doc’s note to get in—you can just hop right in!
All in all, the clinic teams up with your family doctor to keep your ticker in top shape. But just a fair warning, the folks here are more about prevention than seriously advanced heart stuff.
Pros
- Experts in heart rehab and prevention
- Non-invasive approach
- Provides Harvard-born ECP therapy
- No need for a doctor’s referral
Cons
- May not be suitable for serious heart issues
Customer Reviews
Knowledgeable and Caring
“My doctor is so knowledgeable and the staff is so caring. I’ve learned so much about my health from them.”
-Ms. Cheryl Burton, Google Review
Personalized Approach
“It was so nice to truly get to understand a personalized approach to where my risk is and more importantly get me off medications that were giving me side effects.”
-Mr. Aman Spall, Google Review