| Cardiac
Rehab program to hold open house
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or National Heart Health Month, February is the month for hearts. The St. Mary’s Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation program is focusing on cardiac health and wellness at their annual Open House on Wednesday, February 16th from 1:00 to 3:00. Everyone is welcome to attend. “Although there is a special welcome to our current and former patients, the invitation goes out to everyone in the communities we serve,” said Mary Watson, RN, Coordinator, SMH Cardiac Rehab program. “Anyone who attends will be given a coupon for a free lipid screen through our lab. It will provide a reading of a person’s overall cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL.” Free blood pressure checks, blood glucose screens and an O2 saturation test performed by Faunda Butler, SMHC Respiratory Therapist, will also be available. The afternoon function will include a presentation by Dr. Jeremy Ostrander, Medical Director, SMH Cardiac Rehab Program. His talk will reflect this year’s theme, Think Smart for a Healthy Heart. Kevin Conger, DTR, SMH Dietary Manager since 2008, will talk about label reading and making healthy eating choices. She is a Registered Dietetic Technician. The coupons can be redeemed within thirty days at the SMH Labs in Cottonwood or Kamiah. Results will be mailed to the participant’s home and given to their health care provider. “We’re offering the coupons rather than a blood draw that day because results are more reliable when you fast from midnight. The coupons allow people to set up morning appointments with our labs,” said Dr. Ostrander. “We encourage people of all ages to be concerned about their cardiac health. Sometimes we don’t think about our heart health until it begins to fail. With some lifestyle changes, our body health can be improved. Our program offers the tools, knowledge and motivation to fight the progression of cardiovascular disease through education and lifestyle changes,” said Watson who is working with Shelli Lothspiech and Jana Frei, RN. The SMH Cardiac Rehab program is the only one of its kind between Boise and Moscow. They work closely with cardiologists from Heart Clinics Northwest and Spokane Cardiology. The staff work with a variety of patients including people who’ve had a coronary artery bypass, stent placement, valve repair or replacement, stable angina or a heart attack. “Through our program we not only actively monitor patients who’ve experienced a cardiac event, but continue to work with them during the maintenance phase,” said Watson. “We focus on education and consistently monitor medications, blood pressure, oxygen level, heart rate and rhythm. These are important items to know not only for our patients, but the general population. We are sponsoring our Open House to raise people’s awareness about their own cardiovascular health and how to preserve it.” The cardiac rehab program also performs exercise treadmill testing and installs King of Hearts and Holter monitors to track cardiac activity to help physicians diagnose potential cardiac issues. The Open House will be held in the in the room adjacent to the Cardiac Rehab Center within the hospital close to the chapel. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free event. For more information or questions contact Watson, 962-3251 extension 2233. First Ladies Night Out of 2011 set On Wednesday evening, February 16th, St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics will, once again, be hosting a Ladies-Night-Out in their Cottonwood Medical Clinic. This will be the first of four quarterly gatherings scheduled during their third Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant. Each will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 and all women are welcome. The theme of this evening will be Heart Health for Women. Leah Kludt, RN, BSN, CVRN, will be the featured presenter. She is the RN coordinator of the Women’s Heart Health program at the International Heart Institute of Montana at St. Patrick’s Hospital and Health Sciences Center in Missoula. Prior to that position, she worked as a nurse in their cardiac care unit. She recently joined the SMHC staff as a clinic nurse in the Kamiah Medical Clinic and other clinics, as needed. She continues to serve with the Women’s Heart Health program which is a risk assessment, diagnosis and treatment program. “I am passionate about helping women to identify and reduce their risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” said Kludt. “Men and women may experince different signs and symptoms when having a heart attack. It’s very important to know those symptoms so women can recognize them and act quickly.” Kludt will educate the attendees, provide printed materials and be available for questions and answers Women interested in having their annual female exam that evening must make an appointment in advance. All women are welcome to participate in the door prize drawings, receive a goody bag with heart healthy gifts, listen to music and enjoy refreshments that are good and good for you. “This is the third year we have offered this program. Other Komen grantees across the state have heard about the program and are hoping to replicate our program because of its success,” said Stephanie Wagner, SMH Clinics Manager. “Women who have attended in the past are more than welcome to attend this year’s evenings, too. If their exam and mammo were paid for in the past by Komen and their insurance status has not changed they can again be covered.” The cost of the wellness exam and subsequent mammogram will be covered by the Komen grant for women between the ages of 18 and 49 who are residents of Idaho County; who have not had an exam or mammo within the past year and who are uninsured or underinsured. Insurance companies will be billed for women who are covered. The upcoming quarterly themes for this year’s Ladies-Night-Out include a mental health evening with information on massage, yoga and taking care of yourself, physically and mentally. The summer event will feature information on ‘fun in the sun’ while avoiding skin cancer. The October evening will be a’ hunter’s widow’ theme with information on breast health. To schedule an exam at any of the upcoming Ladies-Night-Outs women can call the Cottonwood Medical Clinic, 962-3267. Women can be seen at any of the SMH clinics or the CVHC Kooskia Medical Clinic at any time for an exam and mammo through the Komen grant. |
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