Heart and lung disease are the top health threats facing us today. And these diseases were both magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During that time there was less physical activity, worsening nutritional intake as well as the delay of medical check-ups and treatments for current medical conditions. As a result, our communities are now seeing an increase in both cardiac and pulmonary events.
In many cases, after hospitalization for one of these events, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is a necessary treatment option. Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center and Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital are both proud to offer this program to the communities they serve.
Our multidisciplinary team at these facilities consists of cardiac nurses, exercises physiologists, respiratory therapists, registered dietitians and social workers, who work closely with both our cardiac and pulmonary medical directors. Our therapy program targets general weakness resulting from events and addresses overall multifaceted cardiopulmonary physical strengthening and conditioning.
Education plays a major part in our treatment plans, too. We educate our patients and their families regarding medication optimization, diet, managing stress, smoking cessation and other risk factors. We also understand the need to address the social implications of new cardiac or pulmonary events, even chronic disease. A social worker is also on board to address psychosocial factors.
As for the physical treatment, that occurs in our brand-new clinic, filled with a variety of exercise equipment to target various activity levels and goals. Our cardiac patients are continuously monitored via ECG as they exercise. They also build strong relationships with our team members, as well as with each other.
Jared Epps, aka Coach Epps, (pictured above) is a 58-year-old who was referred to our cardiac rehab program by his cardiologist, Saumil Patel, MD, after he underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) at Maryview Medical Center in August of 2022.
Jared completed his rehab visits at the end of January, and now returns to the community by serving as a physical education educator in Portsmouth, Va. He’s also feeling strong enough to return to his other career at Newport News Shipbuilding.
As his visits came to an end, Coach Epps told us, “cardiac rehab was very helpful; it helped me to stay focused.”
Not only was he feeling better, but Jared could see the proof that he was getting better. Our clinic team will be sad to see him go, but so happy to see him conquer this new chapter in life.
Learn more about cardiac rehabilitation as well as the heart and vascular services we offer at Bon Secours.
