Penticton Council has signed a new five-year agreement to continue its highly successful and popular cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation wellness program.
Council unanimously supported a staff recommendation to renew the lease agreement with the Interior Health Authority for a five-year term. The program will continue operating out of its current location at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Since 2008, IHA has operated the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs in Penticton. These programs were originally held in a private facility, which closed in 2007.
Following the closure, the City provided temporary space at the Penticton Community Centre to continue the programs. With the opening of the SOEC, the City and IHA entered into a lease agreement to rent 1,900 square feet of commercial space within the SOEC for the rehabilitation wellness program.
The initial lease covered the period from 2009 to 2014 and was subsequently renewed for an additional five years. The most recent lease recently expired and had transitioned to a month-to-month agreement. With Council’s support, the program will now continue for another five years.
The program offers a variety of services, including maintenance group training, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and a monthly medical visit group led by an experienced cardiologist.
On average, daily attendance ranges from 30 to 50 participants, with more than 200 patients enrolled annually. Due to high demand, there is currently a two- to four-week waitlist to join.
“Patients are enrolled initially by a referral by a medical doctor to the 10-week program, which includes a variety of services, such as maintenance, group training, rehabilitation and monthly medical group visits, led by a cardiologist,” said the City’s land administrator Sherri Raposo. “On average, daily attendance ranges from 30 to 60 participants, with over 200 patients enrolled annually.
“Due to the high demand, there’s currently a two to four-week wait list to join the program.”
In 2024, IHA identified a significant number of referred patients who exhibited cardiac risk factors despite having no formal diagnosis, according to a staff report.
“In response, they partnered with the City of Penticton Recreation Department to develop targeted risk reduction programs,” said the report. “These initiatives have played a vital role in supporting patients by offering supervised, tailored exercise options designed to meet their specific health needs.”
The current annual lease rate is just under $34,000, which reflects the market lease rate. Interior Health Authority will continue to be responsible for paying utilities, a proportionate share of property taxes, and for repairs and general maintenance of their leased space.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are essential, as they help residents recover from heart and lung conditions, improve overall health, and reduce the risk of future complications, said Raposo.
These programs provide education, support, and supervised exercise, all of which are vital for managing chronic conditions and improving the quality of life for patients, Raposo said.