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BSA Cardiac Rehab Veteran Shares His Story

Jimmy McClure’s journey to and through BSA cardiac rehab has taken its fair share of twists and turns. He initially began the program in 2010 to help with congestive heart failure. With medication and current treatment, “I just wasn’t getting any better,” Jimmy shares. That is when he met cardiac nurses Theresa King, RN and Susan Hunter, RN. “They are top-notch people. They did everything to help me and encouraged me to get the exercises done.

It Starts Today

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery shares an inspirational video following the stories of three individuals who chose weight loss surgery to overcome their struggels with obesity. 

4 Ways to a Healthier You

Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke can be attributed to two out of three deaths in the United States every year. However, many of these deaths could be prevented if we made healthier food choices, got more exercise and stopped smoking, according to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. These organizations have launched a joint initiative called Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life designed to encourage prevention and early detection of these diseases.

Common Misconceptions of Cardiac Rehab

You have just survived a heart attack or are recovering from a cardiac procedure and are advised by your cardiologist from the side of your hospital bed that you need to begin a cardiac rehab program. You may be thinking, “what’s cardiac rehab?” or “I’ve exercised all my life - I can do this on my own.” A medically-supervised cardiac rehab program customized to your specific health considerations and goals may be very different from your perceptions of cardiac rehab.

How Patients Have More Options in Wound Care with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Linda Bernard was almost out of options. She is a diabetic and was suffering from a chronic wound on her foot. Her health care providers had tried many of the traditional wound care treatments with limited results. Finally, she was told that an amputation might be necessary if significant progress could not be made.

Diabetes – A Life-Changing Diagnosis

“My first thought was that I had some dreaded disease,” Glen Wagner, 53 says of the day his doctor told him it was time to start insulin. “That really opened my eyes.” Glen, a 20-year veteran in the medical field, working as a paramedic and in facilities management, lived a life on the go. Meals were often from a drive-thru. There was little to no formal exercise, even though he would describe his lifestyle as physically active with his work. After 30 years, Glen quit smokeless tobacco cold turkey a few years prior to that doctor’s appointment. Yet, it all caught up to him by his late 40s.

Taking Back Control after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

It is the moment you feel you have completely lost control. “Dr. Bentley told me I had breast cancer,” says Mavis Jennings of that moment for her at Harrington Breast Center on an October day in 2012. She was called back after a regularly scheduled mammogram looked suspicious. A second mammogram and sonogram revealed a hidden reality for the then 66-year old with no family history of breast cancer. With her husband by her side, Mavis remembers the room filling with familiar faces as the realization began to set in that she had no idea what to do next.

Surviving Breast Cancer and Helping Others at Harrington Breast Center

Preceded by the words, “You have breast cancer,” comes a call requesting to schedule a follow-up appointment after what appears to be an abnormal mammogram. For patients on the other end of the line, it is the moment their heart sinks and fears and worries go into overdrive. “Most every day someone knows I’m a survivor,” says Brenda Graham, RN, recall nurse at the Harrington Breast Center. Brenda is the person on the other end of the line when the patient needs to come back in for a follow-up appointment or biopsy.

Spotlight on Atrial Fibrillation

The Power of One

Trace Brown has worked in Patient Transport for only three months, but he has already made a big difference in the life of one patient.  When he was transporting a patient, he realized that the patient was blind and deaf.  His wife was also deaf.  Trace knows sign language, so he started a conversation with the man’s wife. She shared with Trace how frustrating it has been to communicate her husband’s needs to the staff and the physician.