Christine’s Journey to the Right Care: A Story of Integrated, Quality Care

When you are experiencing ongoing health concerns, it can be frustrating when you aren’t finding the right answers or supports you need. For Christine, a patient at Community Health Clinic (CHC) Stouffville, months of heart palpitations left her feeling that her concerns weren’t being fully heard by her family doctor.

“What concerned me is that I couldn't really identify a trigger,” Christine says. “They didn't seem to depend on whether I was active, resting, working, or really doing anything in particular. Sometimes they were occurring every few beats for hours at a time, with very little time when my heart felt normal.”

When Christine first brought her concerns to her family doctor, she was told that the palpitations were likely related to anxiety or stress. She was encouraged to take some time off work and slow things down at home.

“I understood that stress can cause physical symptoms, but I kept thinking, nothing in my life really changed. So why am I suddenly experiencing these persistent palpitations?” Christine questioned.

After several months of persistent symptoms and no further testing, Christine decided that she needed a second opinion. She first connected with the Virtual Urgent Care Clinic (VUCC), where a nurse practitioner recommended an urgent in-person assessment at CHC Stouffville. Through this seamless connection between services, she was able to access integrated follow-up care the very next day.

A care team that listens

“When tests are normal, but a patient knows something is wrong, our primary job shifts from forcing an immediate diagnosis to validating their reality,” says Ryan Saunders, Nurse Practitioner at CHC Stouffville. “It is important to create a safe space, to let them know upfront that their symptoms and experience are real and requires more investigation.”

The team at CHC Stouffville recognizes that patients know their bodies best. Their day-to-day experiences and symptoms are an important part of understanding what may be happening, alongside clinical assessments and test results.

“We eliminate vague brush-offs by mapping out clear next steps, such as tracking symptom trends and scheduling targeted specialist consults,” Ryan adds.

Through the partnership between CHC Stouffville and Oak Valley Health, Christine was seamlessly referred for further testing at the Chest Pain Clinic at Markham Stouffville Hospital, part of Oak Valley Health. This coordinated approach helped connect her to the next step in her care without unnecessary barriers.

“I remember leaving that appointment feeling completely different from how I had felt going in,” Christine says. “For the first time in almost a year, I felt like someone had genuinely heard me and we had a plan”

From there, everything moved quickly. Christine underwent additional testing, ECGs, a cardiac stress test, an echocardiogram, and holster monitoring.

A few months later, Christine underwent a four-hour cardiac procedure and will remain on medication long-term.

“I eventually learned that there was a significant burden on my heart, and was told that without appropriate treatment, there was a significant risk of developing cardiomyopathy over time,” Christine says. “A life long cardiac condition that can lead to severe, life-threatening cardiovascular complications.”

Finding your voice

Christine’s experience highlights not only the importance of self-advocacy, but also finding a care team that listens and supports you.

“My ultimate hope is that every patient and family at the CHC experiences profound safety, belonging, and trust,” Ryan says. “Having a secure and reliable primary care team behind them transforms their health care experience.”

Having access to reliable health care can help patients move from worrying about what might happen next to feeling more confident about managing their health and focusing on their long-term life goals.

“For almost a year, I had been living with these symptoms without really understanding what was happening. Once Ryan assessed me and recognized that further investigation was needed, I was connected to the appropriate care very quickly,” Christine says. “It changed my life.”

Finding a care team that patients can trust can create an environment where they feel comfortable sharing concerns sooner and reaching out for support when they need it. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone is listening can be the first step toward finding the care you need.

Accessing primary care in our communities

We support several options for people seeking primary care, including CHC Stouffville, CHC Uxbridge, and the Virtual Urgent Care Clinic. To find a list of our partner clinics currently accepting patients, visit eyrnd.ca/care.