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Your Health The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 6, 2006 - 25 What's up doc? BREAKFAST TALK: Enjoying a chat at the Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) Physician Appreciation Breakfast at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) on Wednesday were, from left, Dr. Sol Stern, Chief of Staff, Dr. Allen Byrne, Chief of Surgery, Dr. Mira Backo, Hospitalist, and John Oliver, HHS President and CEO. BARRIE ERSKIINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER Cardiac Rehab Program will enjoy healthy run at the Y By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While the YMCA of Oakville will be an integral partner of the upcoming Heart Healthy Centre on its Rebecca Street premises, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) will remain in charge of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Donald Peat, the physician overseeing the initiative, recently made this point when he sat down to clear up a few areas of confusion ­ not the least of which is the idea some people have that the Cardiac Rehab Program is ending. With the Y on board, he said, nothing is further from the truth. "The program is not ending but is being enhanced," said Peat, who maintains that, when the Centre is up and running, it will benefit the Cardiac Rehab Program, the Y itself and the community at large. "This is a win-win-win situation," said Peat, a co-founder of the program in 1979. Frequenting the Y, he continued, patients at the Heart Healthy Centre will enjoy a state-of-the-art facility with plenty of sunlight, lots of free parking and so much more. Peat also made it clear that the Cardiac Rehab Program will continue to operate from Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) until the YMCA finishes its expansion, which is now underway. Even when it is finally in operation, intake and orientation will still occur at OTMH upon referral from patients' doctors. Patients should not call the Y. When OTMH installed a new MRI in 2003, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre was forced to move and is currently located in cramped quarters between the Linen Department and the Morgue ­ not exactly the most therapeutic environment, said Peat. Besides, he added, there is no real advantage to hosting the program in a hospital so moving to the Y will help normalize patients' situation and make exercise part of their lifestyle. No longer will they have to walk the OTMH hallways but will instead avoid potential obstacles by using the large YMCA track. "It's out of the hospital," said Peat, who added that patients will reap the benefits of both OTMH's clinical expertise and the Y's new facilities. "It's time to move back into the community." Talks took place between HHS and the Y ­ which "leaped at the idea," said Peat ­ and in June 2005, both parties announced they had entered into the Heart Healthy Centre partnership in which the Y will provide, free of charge, both cardiac rehabilitation program space and instructional space as required by HHS to deliver its mandate. The Cardiac Rehab Program will be delivered by HHS staff, utilizing a YMCA environment that promotes life-long physical activity and offers activity alternatives such as walking on the indoor track, in addition to the cardio fitness activities using the Y's equipment. The OTMH Cardiac Rehab Program is fully funded by OHIP, and provides patients with six months of two weekly sessions of cardiac rehabilitation following their cardiac event. At the Y, the program will be able to increase its Oakville class sizes, from the current 15 patients to between 20 and 25 patients. This means more individuals will be able to benefit from this program, while staff time and the physical space will be used more efficiently. In 2004, 491 people passed through the program. Once the Oakville program is moved to the YMCA, Dr. Peat hopes to be able to treat 500-plus patients. This is good news, considering the program is funded for 578 patients but current space limits taking full advantage of this. Peat said the benefits of the program's individualized team approach include a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in patient mortality, fewer symptoms and recurrences, improved cholesterol levels and reduced stress plus improved exercise tolerance, strength and flexibility. From a strictly financial standpoint, these benefits save healthcare dollars in the long run, Peat added. After a patient's sixmonth Cardiac Rehab program ends, they will be encouraged to continue exercising at any local rec centre or gym. Although there is no obligation to remain at the Y, doing so has several advantages, explained Peat: participants are already comfortable with the equipment and staff and may have made friends with others who are also resolved to staying fit. "Joining the Y is an excellent thing to do," said Peat, a Y board member who stresses that fixing the mechanical cardiac problem is only part of successful treatment. The Heart Healthy Centre is expected to be up and running around September. Dr. Jenna Davis Family Chiropractor/Acupuncturist Alliance Healthcare Professionals Dr. Jenna Davis 905.845.2291 · ADD/ADHD · Fertility Issues · Migraines & Headaches Specializes in: · Pre and Postnatal Treatment · Pediatrics · Naturally Turning Breech Babies WELLNESS CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! UPCOMING EVENTS Pregnancy and You! Mondays, 7-8pm continuing for 6 weeks! Whether you are only minutes pregnant or moments away from delivery, there is important information for everyone! 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