Our program
The BC Inherited Arrhythmia Program (BCIAP) provides state-of-the-art care to British Columbians with a history of an inherited arrhythmia (or inherited heart rhythm condition), an unexplained sudden cardiac arrest or a family history of sudden unexpected death.
BCIAP brings together specialist expertise in adult and pediatric cardiology with medical genetics to identify, screen and manage patients and families affected by an inherited heart rhythm condition.
BCIAP serves the province through two clinical sites: The Heart Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. The Victoria team also conducts northern outreach clinics at Wrinch Memorial Hospital in Hazelton and at the Nisga’a Health Centre in Terrace.
Clinics are held weekly at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and every three weeks at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. For family appointments that include children, pediatric heart rhythm specialists from BC Children’s Hospital attend half-day per month at the Vancouver clinic and every three to four months at the Victoria clinic. Pediatric appointments may also be coordinated on the BC Children’s Hospital site.
Anyone concerned about their family history of a known or suspected inherited heart rhythm condition, or family history of sudden unexplained death, should discuss this history with their doctor.
Health care providers (specialists and family doctors) can refer eligible patients and/or families to either of the BCIAP’s clinical sites.
Eligible patients/families include:
- Patients with a suspected or known diagnosis of an inherited arrhythmia (long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy)
- Patients with a personal history of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest
- First degree relatives of the above
- Individuals with a family history of sudden unexplained death, (those with a negative autopsy), or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
