We are Women’s offers the WCH community a chance to get to know each other and share our stories.
Name: Holly Rector
Title & Department: Nurse Practitioner Cardiology Department
On the WCH team for: Since June 2019
1. What does your typical work day look like?
Most days you can find me in the general cardiology clinics seeing patients with a variety of cardiac conditions. I run an urgent clinic 2-3 days a week that ensures timely diagnosis and treatment for initial or follow up patients that need rapid assessment. One day a week I work in a multidisciplinary heart function clinic coordinating care and seeing high risk patients with heart failure recently discharged from hospital. On Fridays, myself and Dr. Akthari, run a team-based virtual clinic for patients with stable coronary artery disease that focuses on prevention and patient education via virtual platforms. When I am not in clinic I use my background in quality improvement to evaluate the care we provide patients in cardiology. I was recently selected to be a fellow for the 2022-2023 Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS) Fellowship which will continue to help me develop skills in this area.
2. What excites you the most about working at WCH?
The variety of my clinical work and working with my team are what excite me the most about my job. Since I am a part of so many different types of clinics and projects within cardiology, everyday is a little different with new opportunities to learn. I work with excellent physicians who continuously offer their expertise and knowledge and I am always learning from my health discipline colleagues in cardiac rehab or the echo lab. Although COVID has changed the logistics of working as part of a team, we still show up every day (virtually or on site) to work together to ensure patients receive the best care possible. I love working with my team of physicians, health disciplines and administrative staff and thankful for all their hard work.
3. How does your work contribute to creating a positive patient experience?
I think my work contributes to a positive patient experience by increasing access and improving communication. Through my urgent clinics, wait times for appointments have been reduced. In my clinic, you have opportunity to speak with both NP and physician as part of team-based care which allows the patient more opportunities to ask questions and learn about their condition. I also provide an additional point of contact for high-risk patients who require more frequent follow ups either in clinic or patients who need additional education and support. My role ensures patients are seen in a timely manner and enhances their experience by improving communication.
4. Tell us one (or three) thing(s) that your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
A few things that you may not know about me is I love to bake, I am an American but pretty much call Toronto my home now, and I am a huge Ohio State Football fan.