System collaboration leads to life-changing health program

In a collaboration between Benson Hospital and Tucson Medical Center, rural patients can now access cardiac rehabilitation services without having to travel.

After a successful open heart surgery, Lisa Heidrick was told by physicians that she should complete a 36-week course of cardiac rehabilitation, a medically supervised program designed to improve cardiovascular health with exercise counseling and training, and education for heart-healthy living.

The first patient for remote cardiac rehab

Heidrick, a Benson resident, searched for cardiac rehabilitation facilities in Benson and Sierra Vista, but found nothing. Her closest option was TMC. Wanting the best outcome — those who complete cardiac rehab have a much lower risk of a recurring cardiac event — she was willing to make the two-hour round trip trek to Tucson twice a week.

When she called TMC to get on the schedule, however, she was told that TMC Health was starting a remote cardiac rehabilitation program and she would be able to access the same level of care without having to leave Benson.

“I was so excited to find out there was cardiac rehab in Benson,” she said. “I was lucky enough to be the first patient and I love it. If I had to travel, it would be at least three hours of my day for each one-hour appointment.”

‘People seem to really love it’

Twice a week, Heidrick goes to Benson Hospital, less than a mile away from her home, for her cardiac rehab appointments. The rehabilitation room is equipped with a treadmill, an exercise bike, hand weights, a video screen, a camera and monitoring equipment. A Benson Hospital nurse stays in the room during each session to monitor vitals such as blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar, and a TMC exercise physiologist is there on the screen to give feedback and tips. The patient and physiologist can see and talk to each other during the session.

“We see everything like we would if the patient was in our clinic, except they are doing the exercises in Benson and we are talking to them and watching them from Tucson,” said Mary Mellady, director of Cardiac Rehabilitation.

“We give them tips, talk to them about nutrition and exercising after finishing the program — things we would talk to them about in the clinic. People seem to really love it. They are able to engage really well with the exercise physiologists here.”

‘Something to look forward to’

Halfway through the program Heidrick is pleased with the progress she has made. It enables her to do the things she enjoys, such as being outside working on the property she and her husband share.

“Cardiac rehab has helped me improve my activity above even where I was before surgery, so I am very happy with my improvement,” she said. “I can now walk a very long distance with no problem. Walking up stairs and lifting objects doesn’t leave me out of breath. At first, I didn’t understand the need for cardiac rehab, but now I am so grateful that I have been able to participate in this program in my remote location. I’m especially thankful to TMC and Mike, my exercise physiologist, and Andy and Velma, my nurses who are constantly present and make participating in cardiac rehab at Benson Hospital a joy and something to look forward to.”

Community support helps us grow

Setting up the program in Benson was made possible through a donation of $50,000 from the TMC Health Foundation and $25,000 from Arizona Complete Health.

As more people learn about and utilize these life-changing services, more space and equipment will be needed to fill the needs of the rural communities.

“The importance of having cardiac rehab here in Benson is it allows patients to continue to improve their cardiac status locally, without the two-hour total travel time for a one-hour appointment,” said Velma Cooper, director of nursing, Benson Hospital.