Program Description

Have you heard of the Windsor-Essex Cardiac Wellness Centre (CWC)? If you know someone who has had a cardiac event in the last six years, the name may ring a bell. If you have not heard about the CWC, here is a brief summary of how this program can help those living with heart disease in our community.

The CWC is cardiac rehabilitation program located at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Western Campus. A satellite site is also located at the Leamington Kinsmen Complex as part of Leamington District Memorial Hospital. Each program had its roots as part of a Ministry of Health and Long Term Care initiative in 2001 to fund cardiac rehabilitation in Ontario.

Most participants are referred to the program from their cardiologist or family doctor after having a heart attack, angioplasty, bypass surgery, valve surgery or congestive heart failure. The program is funded to see 420 participants in Windsor and 80 participants in Leamington. There is no fee for the program.

An orientation class is scheduled for every referral to educate each potential participant with the benefits of enrolling in a cardiac rehabilitation. Participation is voluntary. After enrolment, each participant begins their six-month program by meeting with our nurse practitioner for a history and physical. One of three internal medicine specialists are assigned to review each participant’s heart history and conducts an exercise stress test to determine the physical fitness of each individual. In an area where physician support is at a premium, having access to this experienced medical team can pay big dividends in accessing rapid and appropriate diagnostics, medications and treatment for those with heart disease.

After determining the plan of action and given proper medical clearance, each participant chooses a twice a week exercise class to attend. Trained exercise specialist guide and teach each participant on variety of exercise equipment to optimize individual goals. Monitoring of target heart rates, blood pressure, blood glucose (diabetics), perceived effort and symptoms ensure that all exercise sessions are conducted in a safe environment to build confidence with each participant when they exercise outside of our facility.

While the exercise component is a large aspect of the program, it is important for everyone to learn about heart disease and its risk factors. Mandatory educational classes on heart health, exercise, nutrition, emotions and coping, and medications are scheduled for each participant. While these classes offer a general understanding of the components that affect heart disease, more specific questions or concerns may need to be clarified.

Fortunately, the CWC has multidisciplinary team consisting of a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, exercise specialists, dietitians, social worker and pharmacist who can answer those questions on an individual basis. Consultations can be arranged with any of the staff throughout their six-month program. Additional sessions on smoking cessation or stress management can be arranged based on personal needs.

Participants are assessed throughout the program and are scheduled to have a final consultation and exercise stress test at the end of the six months. Comparative data has shown that those who participate in the program regularly over the six-month program improve significantly with respect to their physical and mental well-being. The key here is that recovery from a cardiac event or managing heart disease is an “active” process. Participation (rather than a passive approach) in one’s health is vital in cardiac rehabilitation.

The CWC has graduated over 2000 participants from the program. While the program is funded operationally, the CWC does fundraise to insure a functional and safe facility for those who use it. All money raised remains local and supports the CWC in Windsor and Leamington.

Mission Statement
The focus of the Windsor-Essex Cardiac Wellness Centre is to provide quality medical, dietary, psychosocial, and exercise guidance to patients with cardiac needs. This is achieved through a safe, comprehensive, and effective management system that strives to network all community resources to better serve each participant. The Centre's ultimate goal is to be a leader in cardiac prevention and rehabilitation services for Windsor and Essex County.

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