Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Joseph Rozier knows first-hand how tough it can be to comeback from an injury. It is that experience that makes him that much more compassionate and understanding when helping patients in Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center's new Cardiac Rehabilitation program.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation program, which kicked off in May, was designed to help provide therapeutic exercise to increase a heart patient's strength and endurance and motivate them to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle.
The program is located with the Rehab Department in the Cypress Physician Building at 40124 US Hwy 27, Suite 103 in Davenport. The building is located directly north of the hospital.
Rozier, who is an exercise physiologist, has already started seeing patients who are recovering from a heart attack and need to start an exercise regiment.
"I generally see people who range in age from 55 to 70 who do not have a maintenance diet and exercise program or they do not have access to fitness equipment,'' Rozier said. "Most of my patients are retired who might exercise on a recreational level.''
Generally, the Cardiac Rehab program lasts for 12 weeks or 36 sessions. During those sessions, the patients will be given an exercise regime and do the exercises here at the hospital. They will also be given a heart healthy diet composed by hospital dieticians.
"We want to make sure we give them the tools they need to be able succeed in living a healthier lifestyle,'' Rozier said.
Shelly Lyvers, Director of the Cardiac program at Heart of Florida, said she is extremely pleased that the Cardiac Rehab program is off to such a great start.
"There was definitely a need for a Cardiac Rehab program in this area. This is just one more way we are able to provide better services for our patients and members of the community,'' Lyvers said.
For more information or to make an appointment to get started with the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, please call 863-419-2500.
