WELLMONT CVA HEART INSTITUTE
SEEN IN KINGSPORT
Grand Opening for the Bill Gatton Center for
Advanced Cardiac Rehab STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY RAMSEY
Wellmont Health System launched the Bill Gatton Center for Advanced Cardiac Rehab on Tuesday June 14, an initiative bolstered by a $1 million donation from the businessman and philanthropist. Wellmont officials joined Mr. Gatton and community leaders to unveil the progressive center at The Heart Center, 2050 Meadowview Parkway. This is the first of several centers to be developed by Wellmont across the region, each of which will be named for Gatton. The Bill Gatton Center is an official Pritikin ICR (Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation) location, one of only 13 such sites in the nation and the sole one in the region. Pritikin is a nationally recognized company that trained heart institute physicians and staff members so they can introduce this comprehensive program to the region. Gatton has been a heart institute patient for several years and views this gift to Wellmont Foundation as a way to thank his cardiology team lead by Thomas Bulle, M.D. “Having experienced such wonderful care from this group of physicians, I recognized the value of supporting Wellmont’s heart program,” said Gatton. The new Kingsport Center, located on the second floor of The Heart Center, is a cheerful place filled with plenty of light, windows and attractive photos of people walking, riding bicycles and stretching. The remainder of the facility includes a room for yoga classes and another with multiple computers, as well as space for walking and a large area for different pieces of exercise equipment. “Adapting a heart healthy lifestyle is an important component on the patient’s road to recovery, complementing medical procedures and medications that are often prescribed by physicians,” said Bob Franceschelli, Pritikin’s President. “Through a comprehensive and engaging series of educational session, the Pritikin ICR program teaches patients how to sustain a heart-healthy, eating plan, regular exercise and the kind of mindset that fosters healthy behaviors”. The next planned location for the Bill Gatton center will be on the campus of Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Jerry Blackwell (President, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute) ; Bart Hove (President and CEO, Wellmont Health Systems); Bill Gatton (Banker, Real Estate, Automotive Businessman); and Todd Norris (Senior Vice President for System Advancement, Wellmont Health Systems)
John King, Danny Dunn, Frank Winston, and Bill Gatton
SEPTEMBER 2016 | VIPSEEN | 19