Pritikin ICR (Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation) Program is one of only three intensive cardiac rehab programs approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center was one of the first in the state of Ohio to adopt it a few years ago, when Mercy Health restructured its cardiac rehabilitation program to this total mind, body and spirituality approach.
The cardiac rehabilitation team at St. Rita’s is made up of a social worker, a respiratory therapist, a dietitian, five exercise physiologists, and a manager. Each team member contributes an important part to the holistic approach the Pritikin Program offers.
“Research has shown that patients who participate in intensive cardiac rehab have better health outcomes and decrease their chances of having another cardiac event,” said Joanna Wessell, RN manager, cardiology services and cardiopulmonary rehab. “It is a lifestyle wellness program that focuses on eating well, exercising regularly, and having a healthy mind-set.”
The participants in the St. Rita’s cardiac rehab program are defined as those who have had a qualifying heart event, such as, a heart attack, coronary artery stent, coronary bypass, heart failure, valve replacement, heart transplant, or stable angina. Patients attend cardiac rehab as an outpatient for 12 weeks, coming back to St. Rita’s two to three times a week for a total of 72 sessions. It may sound like a lot, but the results are worth it.
“A traditional cardiac rehab program is not as extensive as far as education is concerned,” says Yvonne Stanovich, Registered Dietician, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center. “Typically, patients that have had cardiac events aren’t given information about how powerful diet and lifestyle changes can be for them.
Participants in the Mercy Health Intensive Cardiac Rehab program learn how to adjust their diet and lifestyle habits to help them significantly lower their risk for future events. Many patients also find that their weight, blood pressure and blood sugar control are better for them as a result of following the guidelines learned during the program. Mercy Health gives them practical, hands-on experience and tools for personal empowerment in their own health journey. “We are essentially giving them the keys of freedom to enjoy long-lasting health,” continued Stanovich.
One of the favorite parts of the program are the cooking classes. “We have about six people per class and spouses can attend, in fact we encourage them to come,” said Stanovich. “We want to work with them and whoever else helps with the grocery shopping and cooking.”
The team offers a rotation of 15 cooking school topics, such as, Adding Flavor, Fast and Healthy Breakfasts, Tasty Appetizers and Snacks, Delicious Desserts, Efficiency Cooking, and more. In class, attendees observe the teacher preparing the selected recipes and then they get to taste them,” says Yvonne.
“During class, we discuss several potential variations of recipes in order to individualize them to meet the participant’s preferences. We talk about how to make old favorites in healthier ways. We have a lot of fun sharing with one another and there is a synergy as we do so,” said Stanovich.
Stanovich said that one of the favorite recipes in her classes is banana blueberry ripple ice cream. As a bonus, attendees receive all the heart healthy Pritikin recipes in their patient handbook.
Since the cooking classes began, they have touched hundreds of lives. Several participants have reached out to the staff and let them know how they and their loved ones are doing and what impact the program is still having on them. The group is so grateful to have the privilege of seeing their patients succeed.
Heart patients should exercise five to seven days a week. Most cardiac rehabilitation patients do not exercise at home prior to starting the program at St. Rita’s. That is where Deanna Reynolds-Griffin and the team of exercise physiologists come in.
The exercise physiologists’ goals are to educate the patients and provide a well-rounded exercise program that will help guide them in building their own plan that can last a lifetime.
“We really begin by telling them what exercise is,” she says. “It is a common misconception, that after their cardiac procedure they think they have been “fixed” and that isn’t necessarily true,” she explains. “Heart disease doesn’t go away, there is no cure, but they can make lifestyle changes that can lessen their chances of having another event when participating in a program like this.”
“During the weeks in rehab we exercise to strengthen the heart muscle with aerobic activity, treadmills, bikes and NuStep,” said Reynolds-Griffin. “Our classes increase endurance, strength, and flexibility.”
“My reward is when I hear a patient tell others what they have learned and the impact the program has had on their lives, which in turn encourages the newcomers,” says Yvonne. “To see them grow to the point they are sharing is so inspiring.”
The cardiac rehabilitation team at St. Rita’s is made up of a social worker, a respiratory therapist, a dietitian, five exercise physiologists, and a manager. Each team member contributes an important part to the holistic approach the Pritikin Program offers.
“Research has shown that patients who participate in intensive cardiac rehab have better health outcomes and decrease their chances of having another cardiac event,” said Joanna Wessell, RN manager, cardiology services and cardiopulmonary rehab. “It is a lifestyle wellness program that focuses on eating well, exercising regularly, and having a healthy mind-set.”
The participants in the St. Rita’s cardiac rehab program are defined as those who have had a qualifying heart event, such as, a heart attack, coronary artery stent, coronary bypass, heart failure, valve replacement, heart transplant, or stable angina. Patients attend cardiac rehab as an outpatient for 12 weeks, coming back to St. Rita’s two to three times a week for a total of 72 sessions. It may sound like a lot, but the results are worth it.
“A traditional cardiac rehab program is not as extensive as far as education is concerned,” says Yvonne Stanovich, Registered Dietician, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center. “Typically, patients that have had cardiac events aren’t given information about how powerful diet and lifestyle changes can be for them.
Participants in the Mercy Health Intensive Cardiac Rehab program learn how to adjust their diet and lifestyle habits to help them significantly lower their risk for future events. Many patients also find that their weight, blood pressure and blood sugar control are better for them as a result of following the guidelines learned during the program. Mercy Health gives them practical, hands-on experience and tools for personal empowerment in their own health journey. “We are essentially giving them the keys of freedom to enjoy long-lasting health,” continued Stanovich.
One of the favorite parts of the program are the cooking classes. “We have about six people per class and spouses can attend, in fact we encourage them to come,” said Stanovich. “We want to work with them and whoever else helps with the grocery shopping and cooking.”
The team offers a rotation of 15 cooking school topics, such as, Adding Flavor, Fast and Healthy Breakfasts, Tasty Appetizers and Snacks, Delicious Desserts, Efficiency Cooking, and more. In class, attendees observe the teacher preparing the selected recipes and then they get to taste them,” says Yvonne.
“During class, we discuss several potential variations of recipes in order to individualize them to meet the participant’s preferences. We talk about how to make old favorites in healthier ways. We have a lot of fun sharing with one another and there is a synergy as we do so,” said Stanovich.
Stanovich said that one of the favorite recipes in her classes is banana blueberry ripple ice cream. As a bonus, attendees receive all the heart healthy Pritikin recipes in their patient handbook.
Since the cooking classes began, they have touched hundreds of lives. Several participants have reached out to the staff and let them know how they and their loved ones are doing and what impact the program is still having on them. The group is so grateful to have the privilege of seeing their patients succeed.
Heart patients should exercise five to seven days a week. Most cardiac rehabilitation patients do not exercise at home prior to starting the program at St. Rita’s. That is where Deanna Reynolds-Griffin and the team of exercise physiologists come in.
The exercise physiologists’ goals are to educate the patients and provide a well-rounded exercise program that will help guide them in building their own plan that can last a lifetime.
“We really begin by telling them what exercise is,” she says. “It is a common misconception, that after their cardiac procedure they think they have been “fixed” and that isn’t necessarily true,” she explains. “Heart disease doesn’t go away, there is no cure, but they can make lifestyle changes that can lessen their chances of having another event when participating in a program like this.”
“During the weeks in rehab we exercise to strengthen the heart muscle with aerobic activity, treadmills, bikes and NuStep,” said Reynolds-Griffin. “Our classes increase endurance, strength, and flexibility.”
“My reward is when I hear a patient tell others what they have learned and the impact the program has had on their lives, which in turn encourages the newcomers,” says Yvonne. “To see them grow to the point they are sharing is so inspiring.”