Cardiac health is something all the providers at Osborne County Memorial Hospital take seriously. In 2020, OCMH started its cardiac rehabilitation program for anyone who had experienced a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, heart failure or other conditions.
Michele Watkins, who leads the program, thinks patient involvement and growth is a good sign.
“Seeing an increase in patients means that more individuals understand their part in improving their health and want to do the work to get healthier,” she said. “Our cardiac rehab program aims to show patients that they can make small changes that have a lasting impact.”
The program at OCMH is 12 weeks. To start the program, the patients meet individually with Watkins for an assessment. The assessment provides a baseline so both Watkins and the individuals can track their progress throughout the sessions. Other sessions include supervised exercise and education on medications and healthy lifestyle choices. Watkins also offers encouragement for those who are feeling stuck.
“The return to health is different for everyone, and nearly every patient reaches a point where they aren’t sure the work they are doing is making an improvement,” Watkins said. “I’m glad to be a shoulder to lean on to remind them of how far they are coming and to keep moving forward.”
Over the last year, Watkins has seen the program “graduate” 22 patients, which accounts for half of the program's history.
Watkins attributes the growth and program completion to better communication and relationships with providers. Patients feel more confident knowing they have a team working with them, and they see results from their efforts. She notes that seeing individual and group success makes it easy to keep encouraging patients.
“The graduation is the best part of the job,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to see patients leave the program feeling confident in their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle and hopefully prevent future heart problems.”
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