RUMFORD — Cardiac Rehab Week, Feb. 12-18, featured a theme of “Experience a Change of Heart.” The cardiac rehab nurses, Tammy Berry, Dan Elliott and Sharon Gates, made bags filled with goodies and presented them to all participants in the Cardiac Rehab Phase II program. Cardiac Rehab Phase II is a health insurance-paid program which patients attend immediately following a cardiac event. Phase I of heart patient education is delivered in the hospital where they were treated for the event.

The cardiac rehab department was completely renovated in 2010 and includes 15 pieces of new exercise equipment, hand weights and other exercise options to meet patient needs. Phase II classes are held three days a week and consist of physical conditioning, supplemented by education, relaxation training and support group interaction. The cardiac rehab staff saw 203 patients in Phase II during the month of February, a record.  

Cardiac Rehab Phase III is a self-pay program for anyone with a history of heart or lung disease. A physician referral is required to enter the program.  One-hour classes are held two days each week.

On March 1 the staff celebrated the one year anniversary of the Phase III program by inviting current participants to a get-together. Each participant received a year’s subscription to Nutrition Action magazine. During the first year of the program, 28 patients participated. The average number of visits per patient was 58.6, and Phase III participants accumulated 704 hours of exercise.