Cardiac rehab program launched on St. Valentine Day

NEWS RELEASE

GROUP HEALTH CENTRE

*********************** New cardiac rehab program launched in Sault Ste. Marie on Valentine's Day

Group Health Centre has launched a long-awaited cardiac rehab program for Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District

February 14, 2007 – Group Health Centre (GHC) has launched a long-awaited cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program for the residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District.

The GHC Cardiac Rehab Program is a satellite clinic of the Sudbury Regional Hospital (SRH) Cardiac Rehab Program, which is the regional site funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

GHC’s cardiac rehab is an interdisciplinary program committed to providing support and education to help reduce cardiovascular risk after a patient has had a heart attack or experienced a heart condition.

Cardiac rehab team members include: family physicians, cardiologists, nurses, registered dietitians, physical therapists, kinesiologists, social workers, pharmacists and additional health professionals with specialized areas of expertise.

Program components are: exercise, nutrition and dietary counselling, smoking cessation, relaxation and stress management counselling, and patient self-management.

Dr. Tom Mathew, Algoma District Medical (ADMG) cardiologist and Dr. David Crookston, ADMG family physician, are the co-medical directors of the GHC Cardiac Rehab Program.

Dr. Crookston says: "This long-awaited program will enable patients to be educated and supported closer to home following a heart attack or cardiac procedure, and will assist in preventing future cardiac complications."

GHA President and CEO Graham Clark states: "Group Health Centre is pleased to be able to provide this program in collaboration with Sudbury Regional Hospital, in response to a longstanding need for cardiac rehab in the Algoma District."

Maria Fera, GHC cardiac rehab program manager [shown today with Sault MPP David Orazietti] says, "Patients can be referred from the SRH and the Sault Area Hospital."

"Primary care providers, as well as other health care providers or programs, may also refer to the program, and patients can also self-refer," Fera says.

"Patients who have experienced a heart attack (past or present), heart surgery, heart failure, angina and arrhythmia (including pacemaker), are eligible to be enrolled in the program," she says.

Group Health Centre has signed a satellite participation agreement with SRH, which enables them to receive funding for the program, while agreeing to meet the accepted standards of care outlined in the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation Guidelines for Cardiac Rehab and Secondary Prevention.

"We are very pleased to forge this partnership with the Group Health Centre," said Judy Poupore, clinical manager, Sudbury Regional Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

"Making it possible to access cardiac rehabilitation services closer to home for people in Sault Ste. Marie will greatly improve the recovery of cardiac patients in this community," Poupore said.

"This is another important link and an example of how an innovative approach can serve to improve the health of people in Northeastern Ontario," she said.

David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, stated: "Congratulations to the pro-active and hard-working physicians and staff at the Group Health Centre for successfully formulating a program that meets the needs of our community."

"Our government is pleased to help support a cardiac rehabilitation program that will enable patients to access the services they need closer to home where they can receive the full support of their family and friends," Orazietti said.

***********************