BCHS cardiac & pulmonary rehab
patients travel up, up, and away
Battle Creek has a long history of international balloon
competitions. Keeping that theme in mind, earlier this
spring 65 cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation patients
at Battle Creek Health System began their 'flights to
fame' too. Their training did not include stretching
nylon material or loading propane tanks into gondolas,
but instead involved putting on tennis shoes, hiking
up their workout gear, and 'walking' 'cycling,' 'stair
climbing,' and 'rowing' their way around the world on
the BCHS campus. Even though 18 of them logged in enough
miles to 'finish,' all of them experienced a successful
journey.
"The goal was to have our patients 'travel' the
23,180-mile circuit, the same distance as circling the
globe in a hot air balloon," says Nathan Burns,
exercise specialist at Battle Creek Health System. "Our
patients weren't out sailing in the atmosphere per se,
but they did receive credit for exercise they completed
in the rehab exercise program. One hour of exercise computed
to 400 miles of credit. The goal was to log in 23,000+
miles from last October through this spring. Our patients
worked this challenge by using a wide variety of exercise
equipment from treadmills and cycles to recumbent steppers
and rowing machines. All told, more than 1.1 million
miles were completed by our patients."
Participants were given a trip card each week on which
they recorded their progress toward goal; the staff kept
track on a large map so others could see the patients'
headway. All of those who logged in the complete journey
around the world had their names entered into a grand
prize drawing.
This year's 'Around the World in 100 Days' challenge
was supported by both the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation
Centers, which are certified by The American Association
of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
The pulmonary program serves those who suffer from chronic
obstructive lung disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis,
asthma, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary fibrosis. The cardiac
program helps individuals with coronary artery disease
(CAD). Anyone who has undergone open-heart surgery or
stent placement, has experience a heart attack, or has
been diagnosed with stable angina (chest pain) is eligible
for cardiac rehabilitation. The programs consist of educational
classes as well as monitored exercise sessions.
This was the fifth year for a travel-incentive-themed
activity. In the past, patients have walked to the Mackinac
Bridge, cruised the Caribbean, and taken dogsleds on
the Iditarod.
To learn more about the pulmonary program, call (269)
966-8438, or (269) 966-8199 for the cardiac program.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent
organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic
health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing
homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care
agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS
Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission
on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle
Creek Health System, a member of the Mercy Cancer Network,
is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery
Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five Star rated for joint
replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades
is a leading health care information company that provides
objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides
excellent health care for the community and promotes
wellness for the whole person with access and compassion
for all. For the latest medical information, visit the
BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing
Department at (269) 966-8132.
Battle Creek Health System challenged cardiac and pulmonary
rehabilitation patients to 'compete' in a 100-day exercise
program recently to log more than 23,000 miles, the
distance around the world, on the hospital's rehab
exercise equipment. Darwin Wellington, center, was
the winner of the challenge. Presenting him with the
certificate as the grand prizewinner were (L-R) Nate
Burns, EP; Kelley Reicherts, EP; Deborah Pierce, RRT;
and Sarah Joslin, RRT. The 65 participants in this
annual event logged more than one million miles of
exercise.
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