Resources

We understand that people often require quick access to the information they need about their procedure. This page contains links to webpages and action plans, as well as printable information sheets and booklets.

General Resources for St Vincent's Hospital Patients, Families and Carers

• Aboriginal Health Unit - providing support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inpatient and outpatients including families and carers
• Accommodation for visitors - details of local accommodation for patients, families and carers at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney
• Visiting hours - information about visiting hours st St Vincent's Hospital Sydney
• What to pack for hospital - a checklist of what to bring to hospital to ensure you have everything you need to keep you comfortable while staying with us

Patient Information Sheets, Webpages, Booklets and Action Plans

Links to other websites or details of third parties provided on the website are for convenience only and do not indicate any endorsement of those websites or third parties.

Arrhythmias

• Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation- St Vincent's Hospital information sheet for patients having a cardioversion
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• Lifebeat online - free, printable education for patients provided by Boston Scientific
• Medtronic - information for patients provided by Medtronic
• St Jude Medical - information for patients provided by St Jude Medical

Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Heart Foundation Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Directory - find your nearest cardiac rehabilitation program
• St Vincent's Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Program booklet - details about St Vincent's Hospital cardiac rehabilitation
• Types of Chest Pain Table - a guide explaining some of the common causes, signs and symptoms of chest pain
• Sternal Precautions brochure - some useful tips for protecting your breastbone after cardiac surgery

Cardiac Surgery

• Cardiac Surgery - Patient and Family Handbook - a step by step guide for patients having heart surgery at St Vincent's Hospital
• Preoperative Checklist for Cardiac Bypass Surgery - a full list of investigations required before having cardiac bypass surgery at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
• Preoperative Checklist for Heart Valve Surgery - a full list of investigations required before having heart valve surgery at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
• General Guide to Blood Transfusion - information for patients and families published by the Clinical Excellence Commission
• Types of Chest Pain Table - a guide explaining some of the common causes, signs and symptoms of chest pain
• Sternal Precautions brochure- some useful tips for protecting your breastbone after cardiac surgery

Cardiomyopathy

• Cardiomyopathy Association of Australia - a charity supporting people with all forms of cardiomyopathy, and their families.

Coronary Angiogram & Stenting

• Care Advice Following Coronary Angiography and Stenting - what to do after your procedure
• Guidelines for Angioplasty and Stent Patients - important information you need to know before leaving St Vincent's Hospital
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• Types of Chest Pain Table - a guide explaining some of the common causes, signs and symptoms of chest pain

Healthy Eating & Weight Loss

• Find an Accredited Practising Dietitian - using the Diabetes Association of Australia
• Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (for adults) - by healthdirect Australia
• Eat for Health - healthy eating guide for adults
• Get Healthy Service- free information and telephone coaching service
• Food Label Chart- a tool to help you understand food labels to choose healthy foods and drinks
• Salt calculator -  a calculator which converts sodium listed on food products into grams of salt or vice versa

Heart Disease

• Heart Attack Action Plan - the Heart Foundation's step by step guide on what to do if you think you are having a heart attack
• Quitline - information and advice to help you quit smoking
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• Types of Chest Pain Table - a guide explaining some of the common causes, signs and symptoms of chest pain

Heart Failure

• Living Well with Heart Failure book - a Heart Foundation resource to help you manage heart failure
• Fluid Balance Information Sheet- information to help you follow a fluid restriction whilst in hospital and at home
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• Salt calculator -  a calculator which converts sodium listed on food products into grams of salt or vice versa

Heart Transplant

• Transplant Information Manual - a step by step guide for patients having a heart transplant at St Vincent's Hospital
• Dealing with a Transplant Book - a manual to help patients and families cope with a transplant
• Heart Transplant Patient Treatment Record - understand your medications and keep track of any changes to your plan
• Cardiac Biopsy- a patient information sheet about having a heart biopsy
• General Guide to Blood Transfusion - information for patients and families published by the Clinical Excellence Commission
• Dealing with a Transplant Book - a manual to help patients and families cope with a transplant
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• Types of Chest Pain Table - a guide explaining some of the common causes, signs and symptoms of chest pain
• Heart Transplant Referral Forms - explaining the investigations required for heart transplant assessment at St Vincent's Hospital
• St Vincent's Transplant Rehabilitation Program Brochure - details about the transplant program at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
• The Transplant Network Australia - a community dedicated to helping young people facing the prospect of an organ transplant
• International Transplant Nurses Society Patient Education - offers high quality patient education materials in multiple languages
• Australian Heart Lung Transplant Association - support for patients and their families, to discuss transplantation and exchange ideas

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

• Lifebeat online - free, printable education about ICD's for patients with Boston Scientific devices
• Medtronic - information about ICD's for patients with Medtronic devices
• St Jude Medical - information about ICD's for patients with St Jude Medical devices

Medication

• NPS MedicineWise - evidence based information on medicines available in Australia
• MedicAlert - internationally recognised medical and identification jewellery for use in an emergency
• NPS Medication list - a useful way to keep all the information about your medicines together. When folded, the medicines list is small enough to fit in your wallet or handbag, so that you can carry it with you at all times
• Warfarin education video - explaining all you need to know about taking warfarin

Mood

• Cardiac Blues Brochure - the ups and downs of emotional recovery after heart attack or surgery

Pulmonary Hypertension

• Pulmonary Hypertension Information Book - a guide for patients with pulmonary hypertension
• Right Heart Catheter- patient information brochure for patients having right heart catheterisation

Travelling -  by air for heart patients

• Qantas Travel Clearance Guidelines - guidelines for when you are safe to fly with Qantas
• Jetstar Travel Clearance Guidelines - guidelines for when you are safe to fly with Jetstar
• Virgin Travel Clearance Guidelines - guidelines for when you are safe to fly with Virgin
• Rex- Conditions of Carriage Guidelines - guidelines for when you are safe to fly with Rex Airlines

Travelling - by car for heart patients

• Austroads Suggested Non-driving Periods Post-cardiovascular Events or Procedures Table - guidelines for when you are safe to drive in Australia with a cardiovascular condition
• Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2016 - guidelines for when you are safe to drive with a medical condition in Australia

Travel Assistance for Isolated Patients in NSW

• Isolated Patients Transport and Accommodation Assistance - to help with the financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs when a patient needs to travel lengthy distances for specialist medical treatment that is not available locally

Ventricular Assist Devices (VADS)

• HeartWare - a website about ventricular assist devices for patients and families