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Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n
AdventHealth Apopka celebrated the opening of its new\u00a0intensive\u00a0cardiac rehabilitation\u00a0(ICR)\u00a0facility with a ribbon cutting on Friday, addressing a major gap in local heart care by allowing patients to receive rehab close to home instead of traveling to other campuses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ICR program is designed for patients recovering from major cardiac events such as heart attacks\u00a0and\u00a0open-heart surgery. It combines closely\u00a0monitored\u00a0exercise, disease and medication education, and lifestyle counseling\u00a0\u2013\u00a0including nutrition and smoking cessation support\u00a0\u2013\u00a0to improve long-term survival and reduce the risk of future cardiac events.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0a great day, right? This has been a long time coming,\u201d Kevin Poole, AdventHealth Apopka COO, said\u00a0during the ceremony. \u201cI heard about this as one of the first things\u00a0when\u00a0I came to\u00a0Apopka.\u00a0It\u00a0was like,\u00a0\u2018Cardiac rehab\u00a0\u2013 we need to figure out how to do this here at Apopka.\u2019\u00a0And today is the day that\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0all coming to fruition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Poole said the program is already seeing strong demand.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just heard that we\u2019re booked out through May, which is wild,\u201d he said, adding that the new service \u201crounds out our cardiac program\u201d and meets a clear community need.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr. Linus\u00a0Wodi,\u00a0AdventHealth Apopka\u00a0cardiologist and the program\u2019s director, emphasized the importance of having the service available locally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients are really going to have the benefit of having the cardiac rehab in-house where they don\u2019t have to travel any longer,\u201d\u00a0Wodi\u00a0said at the ceremony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Previously, patients from Apopka often had to travel to other AdventHealth campuses, including\u00a0Altamonte Springs, to complete rehabilitation.\u00a0Wodi\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0created barriers for some patients and delayed access to care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just saw a patient upstairs who goes to Altamonte, and I told him about today, and\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0very excited.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0going to try to transfer his care here,\u201d\u00a0Wodi\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He added that cardiac rehabilitation plays a key role in recovery and prevention, citing improved survival rates and healthier lifestyle outcomes for patients who complete the program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0going to have\u00a0reduction\u00a0in\u00a0hospitalizations.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0going to have patients doing much better after their events,\u201d\u00a0Wodi\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cThe addition to this service is not \u2013 I mean, you cannot overstate how important it is for us on campus.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The program includes a structured regimen of about 30 to 32 sessions, during which patients are\u00a0monitored\u00a0while exercising and\u00a0receive\u00a0education on diet,\u00a0medications\u00a0and disease management.\u00a0Staff also assess psychological well-being, aiming to reduce anxiety and improve adherence to treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hospital officials said the facility can accommodate up to eight patients per day, three days a week, with a team of nurses and exercise\u00a0physiologists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following remarks, staff and attendees bowed their heads as a hospital chaplain prayed over the space, asking for healing and success for future patients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The facility is set to\u00a0open\u00a0Monday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have to drive downtown\u202ffor that\u202fseveral days a week, that can be really difficult,\u201d\u00a0AdventHealth Apopka CEO Brad\u00a0Hillmon<\/a>\u00a0told The Apopka Chief in a previous interview. \u201cPeople\u2019s chances of\u202fparticipating\u00a0in that process go\u202fway\u202fdown, because\u202fit\u2019s\u202fjust hard. Now, when that is in your local community hospital, and you can drive a few miles to get intensive cardiac rehab, you have a much\u202fhigher\u202fchance of being compliant with your care plan.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n