Cardiac Rehab Program at Horizon’s TMH turns 10
The Moncton Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers patients more than just physical activity — it’s a place to come together, heal and grow. In early December the program celebrated 10 years of helping clients be healthy with an open house. The program consists of a multidisciplinary team of cardiovascular health professionals who help clients return to their optimal activity level both physically and mentally. It all began 10 years ago with Kelly Gould, registered nurse; Sheila Nicolle, physiotherapist; and Tracy Selway, who was the coordinator at the time.
exercise, education, nutrition counselling and symptom management, including stress, dyslipidemia and hypertension management and smoking cessation. For the first five years the program took place at the Moncton YMCA, before moving into the hospital. Nancy Couturier, the program’s clinical coordinator, said the objectives of the program include helping clients regain confidence and learn how to live with heart disease while incorporating heart healthy living through exercise and education into their lifestyle. The goal is to reduce the client’s risk of having heart problems in the future. Each participant has their own plan, including guidelines for home exercise, but in the clinic they work out as a group.
Emergency Department staff at the SMH.
Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital “a gem” in the community
Sheila Nicolle, physiotherapist and Cardiac Rehabilitation Program client Bernie Mazerolle are photographed in the rehabilitation gym in Clinic A during the program’s 10th anniversary open house. Tanya Steeves began the program in April 2018 after surviving a heart attack in late 2017. She’s come a long way since her heart attack and is feeling good. She begins each work out on the treadmill before moving to another piece of equipment. Her current favourite is the NuStep, because it works both your upper and lower body. “The staff is fantastic,” said Tanya. “They have become friends and have made me feel very comfortable.” Tanya will never be able to return to her career as a pet groomer, but says the program has given her a new purpose. “Right now my job is to get better,” she said. “And the staff made me focus on that. They have made me feel like I was part of something, like I am part of the team.” Once clients complete the program they are encouraged to take part in Friday morning open gym sessions. Each week program graduate Bernard “Bernie” Mazerolle visits the gym to exercise in a supervised environment and catch up with staff and friends. “Bernie lost his spouse of over 60 years in the spring and I hope we have been able to help him in some small way in the grieving process,” said Nancy. “We are like family and have been able to support him during this difficult time, not just physically but emotionally as well.” Making a difference in the lives of clients like Tanya and Bernie is what Nancy loves about the program and her role. “Our patients are so grateful,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see them gain the confidence to move forward dealing with heart disease and take some control back in their lives by making healthy, knowledgeable choices.”
Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital (SMH) opened 30 years ago and has been offering patients in the Sackville region quality care since that very first day in April 1988. That care has been reciprocated: Since the doors opened, the Sackville community has shown a lot of love for the SMH. It’s evident in the fact that each year, through the work of the Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation and Sackville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the small community rallies together to raise a large amount of money for their hospital. “People are happy that we are here,” said Emilie Doucet, facility manager. “The community is a big supporter of the hospital. Every year the Foundation is able to raise $100,000 for their campaign. For a small community, that is a lot of support.” The community support has allowed the hospital to flourish over the past 30 years, ever since ground broke on the new build in 1983. Staff at the former Sackville Hospital had the unique opportunity to watch their new facility being built right before their eyes — the new location was right behind the old one. Wendy Smith, supervisor of Health Records, Admitting and Telecommunication, said she and her colleagues watched patiently from the old building. “We were the first department that moved over,” she said. “We moved all our charts. When we moved in, we thought it was just awesome; we had a huge new room, with everything all in one area for filing. So much more space that we had before.” Sharon Trainor, registered nurse, has been working at the SMH since the new facility opened, and worked in the former location, too.
“I grew up here and a friend of mine and I decided when we were in high school we would come to the ladies auxiliary and ask for a bursary,” Sharon explained. “We applied for a $500 bursary, and we each got one. But one of the stipulations was we had to come back here and work for two years once we graduated.” Sharon took that two-year commitment and turned it into a 44-year nursing career in her home town. “I like that we’re a small hospital,” she said. “You really get to know everyone. People you know from the community come in and say, ‘It’s so nice to see a familiar face.’ You get that so often in a small community. For them it brings comfort.”
Located in Clinic A, the twice-weekly, 12-week program consists of supervised
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Sharon Trainor, registered nurse, has been working at the SMH since the hospital opened its doors in 1988.
“To be able to have my dad right here when he was in the latter part of his life is very important. “I know how important it is to the community by the work being done by the Foundation, the Auxiliary; they are all gung-ho for doing things for the hospital.” The hospital means a lot to all staff, who, according to Emilie, all know each other — a very special feeling.
Wendy agrees, referring to the hospital as a “gem.”
“I found out when my dad was sick how much this hospital means for our community,” she said.
Physiotherapist Sheila Nicolle and Registered Nurse Lisa Steeves help client Tanya Steeves on the treadmill.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program team and clients joined together in December to celebrate 10 years of the program.
Health Records and Admitting staff at Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital, from left: Heather Hicks-Gautreau, Donna Steeves, Susanna Surette, Wendy Smith and Alex Ouellette.
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