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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Speare Memorial Hospital (603) 536-1120 | |
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October 26 , 2006 | |
Speare Memorial Hospital´s Cardiac Rehab Program
Celebrates First Anniversary
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PLYMOUTH, N.H. --- The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Speare Memorial Hospital celebrated its one-year anniversary on October 24 with an open house and recognition of the 39 graduates to-date. Nine graduates were on hand to receive their commemorative t-shirt and celebrate their personal successes. "The program instills in one a thought process to exercise more, follow our diets and not do the things we shouldn´t" noted David Carlson from Bridgewater, who graduated from the program in September. |
| SMH President and CEO Michelle McEwen congratulated the program graduates on their success, and noted they were the reason Speare Memorial Hospital added Cardiac Rehab to its growing list of services to promote health and wellness. She said, "It was just four years ago we started planning for our new building, and the initial focus was on increasing space for existing services. But we also knew it was an opportunity to add new programs, and had recognized the need for cardiac rehabilitation services in our community. We are proud of the cardiac rehab staff for their commitment to building better hearts and providing you the health services you need." | |
| Craig Johnson, an exercise physiologist, oversees the Cardiac Rehab program at Speare Memorial Hospital. He explains, "The heart is a muscle and exercise makes it more efficient. The rehab program demonstrates to patients that they can exert themselves physically without experiencing pain and shortness of breath, which in turn gives them confidence." | |
| Together with Judy Bolger, physical therapist, Johnson continually monitors patients´ heart rate, blood pressure and level of exertion during a typical 30 minute circuit on an arm bike, airdyne bike and treadmill. Since each patient exercises at a different level relative to his or her medical history, current ability and personal goals, exercises are adjusted accordingly. Workouts are scheduled three days a week and are preceded by an educational program on Mondays and Wednesdays, for stress management, exercise and the heart, medication management and nutrition. Instruction on relaxation techniques occurs on Fridays. | |
| Current patient Joyce Sobetzer of Rumney expressed her appreciation for the care and support the program provides, stating, “We owe a lot to Craig and Judy. They keep us going and why things go so well.” | |
| Since the program’s inception one year ago, 39 patients have successfully graduated, and 38 percent of them participate in a voluntary maintenance program. Johnson also noted that graduates of the program have a 115 percent increase in exercise tolerance, or level of exertion, and more than double the energy. He said the average graduate spends 45 minutes a day exercising, five to six days a week, compared to the pre-program average of eight to10 minutes of exercise once or twice a week. | |
| For more information about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Speare Memorial Hospital, talk to your physician or call 603-238-6440. | |
| Speare Memorial Hospital is a 24-hour, acute care, non-profit community hospital and health care provider serving Plymouth, and the communities of central New Hampshire, for more than a century. | |
| Michele Barney Hutchins MBHCommunications michele@mbhcommunications.com (603) 254-9161 | |