A heart attack or surgery can be a scary and life-changing experience. The skilled and caring staff on North Arkansas Regional Medical Center’s (NARMC) Cardiac Rehabilitation team provides the support needed when recovering from a cardiac event.
Every year, more than 790,000 Americans have a heart attack. While immediate treatment is necessary, so is having a plan to reduce your risk of future heart attacks and problems. That’s where Cardiac Rehabilitation comes in. Cardiac Rehab is a monitored and supervised exercise program for patients with any form of cardiovascular disease. The Cardiac Rehab program includes patient assessment, exercise and education. The staff guides the patient through each of these, as well as assists with insurance questions and, finally, the creation of a Heart Health maintenance program, including the guidance and counsel of our Registered Dieticians.
Visits to NARMC’s Cardiac Rehab have grown drastically over the last few years, with more than 8,500 patient visits in 2017. With this increased demand, the team and patients quickly outgrew the existing Cardiac Rehab fitness center. In early November, the department unveiled a remodeled and expanded fitness center area.
The new fitness center area integrates the cardiac and respiratory rehab treatment areas, as well as allowing space to accommodate new patients. The fitness center grew from 1,592 sq. ft. to 1,993 sq. ft., and features piped-in oxygen supply for patient safety.
The increased space allowed for six new pieces of exercise equipment and for the existed equipment to be better arranged within the space.
A team of skilled technicians from NARMC’s Engineering and Construction teams executed the Cardiac Rehab remodel. Not only does having an in-house construction department reduce the cost of projects, but it allows NARMC to customize spaces to meet the specific needs of the care provided in each area.
“We are excited to be able to grow the Cardiac Rehab program with our patients,” said Gloria Starnes, director of Cardiopulmonary at NARMC. “We’ve seen first-hand how the program can help patients recover quicker and stay healthier after a cardiac event. It’s such a game-changer, and we are so glad to be able to offer this innovative program right here in Harrison.”
The Cardiac Rehab fitness center is located on the first floor of NARMC, near the north entrance. Patients interested in Cardiac Rehab should speak to their physicians to see if it is a good fit for them. For more information about the program, call 870-414-4545. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]