A regional program focused on heart health is marking five years of services and 25 cohorts this June.
The Pembina Valley Cardiac Rehabilitation (PVCR) program is an education and exercise program designed to support recovery after heart disease, heart surgery, or a heart attack.
Kinesiologist Nolan Turnbull said it is a great collaborative effort that involves staff from the Menzies Medical Centre in Morden and the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre in Winkler along with a variety of allied health care professionals across the region.
“Cardiac rehab was identified as a need quite a while ago,” said Turnbull, who noted they worked with a cardiac rehab program in Portage with support and direction as well from programs in Winnipeg.
“Prior to this, there was no cardiac rehab program in the Pembina Valley. There’s various heart health classes that have been offered over the years, but there’s never been a comprehensive rehab program … people would have had to go to the Reh-Fit Centre in Winnipeg, and it’s an amazing program, but the problem is not everyone can afford to get there, and it’s a longer program, so it’s a bit more of a commitment. The biggest barrier for most people is the travel and the time, so to have something local is just more accessible.”
One of the participants in the program this spring was David Devloo from the Somerset area. He first had a heart attack in 2021 and took part in a cardiac rehab program in Winnipeg at that time. He then had heart surgery this past April.
“I found out there was a program here based out of Winkler, so that was a bonus,” Devloo said. “I’m a little early into the program, given my surgery was just in April, but I think it’s a wonderful resource. I’m super impressed with the people who are involved.”
He appreciates and values the support provided through the program.
“We’ve had wonderful speakers so far … and there are good resources for everything, really.
“If I had to go into Winnipeg, I would have just skipped it. I wouldn’t have gone into the rehab … it just didn’t make sense … so I was just so happy that there was something local,” said Devloo. “They’ve got a lot of options and resources depending on what you’re dealing with … these are caring people who are involved with this program.”
PVCR consists of two weekly two-hour sessions for six weeks. The cost is only $50, and participants learn skills for longterm heart health through regular supervised exercise, heart-healthy nutrition, medication management, stress management, lifestyle education, and counselling. Each group aims to help up to a dozen people in their recovery from a heart event or procedure.
The PVCR health care team helps clients manage symptoms and develop confidence in making healthy lifestyle changes through exercise and routine physical activity.
Throughout the program, the kinesiologist monitors each participants’ exercise program and provides feedback and encouragement regarding their lifestyle goals.
The bottom line is that the expert cardiac rehab team ensures people’s experience in the program is designed to meet their individual needs so that they can live their best lives and get back to doing the things that they most enjoy.
Turnbull suggested it can be a game changer for some people. There is a lot that comes into play in relation to cardiac health, he noted, so that is the focus of their work.
“Our program is a bit unique in that it does have the collaboration of all these different health care professionals,” he said, noting they can offer referrals to a wide range of services such as a dietitian, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, kinesiologist and a mental health clinician. “The resources are available for referrals if needed to support the patient if throughout the program we identify the various areas of need.
“It’s a very special program in that most cardiac rehab programs are run by a physiotherapist or kinesiologist and a nurse or something similar. Our program is the only one that I know that has such a multi-disciplinary approach. We also have a doctor who comes in and presents as well,” Turnbull added. “So there really is a team effort, and the multi-disciplinary approach to it keeps it more interesting and engaging for patients.
For more information about the program and upcoming sessions, email pvcr@southernhealth.ca or call 204-361-6043.
