Saint Therese Launches a Cardiac Care Program
Saint Therese is happy to announce that we have launched a specialized cardiac care program on our New Hope campus.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Unit’s 2012 Minnesota Heart Disease Fact Sheet, in 2010 Minnesotans experienced over 48,000 acute heart disease hospitalizations, incurring more than $1.8 billion in charges for inpatient hospitalizations.

“The statistics are alarming. We saw a need in the community and developed a program to uniquely serve cardiac patients,” said Denise Juday Barnett, Saint Therese of New Hope Executive Director.The Cardiac Care Program, which started in May 2012, is an effort to reduce hospital readmissions among cardiac patients. Since May, nearly 180 patients have participated in the program at Saint Therese of New Hope. The program is one of the first of its kind in Minnesota.

“Saint Therese has had many successes over the past nine months,” explained Stacy Lind, Saint Therese of New Hope Director of Clinical Services. “An interdisciplinary team meets twice a week to review charts and measure patient progress. It allows us to prevent most issues before they become a problem and provide the best possible care to each individual.”

After a cardiac-related hospitalization, patients are often discharged to a transitional care unit in a skilled nursing facility to complete their care. At Saint Therese of New Hope, heart patients receive care provided by specially trained nursing staff and cardiac trained rehab staff. On-site EKG equipment, medication management by a licensed on-site pharmacist and specially designed beds to monitor weight help identify problems before they become serious.

To prepare the patient for the return home, several steps are taken. Heart-healthy nutrition education is offered by a registered dietitian to both patients and their family members. A home visit with a licensed occupational therapist is provided to ensure a safe return home. And, a fitness routine based on strategies to restore, adapt or compensate the patient’s body and living environment is developed.

Distinctive and essential parts of the program’s success are the extensive follow-up procedures after discharge to help prevent hospital readmission. Saint Therese provides continued rehab for cardiac patients through outpatient programming and social workers make regular calls to the individual to confirm appointments and transportation and to check on progress.

“It is our goal to give cardiac patients the tools they need to be successful at home and to prevent future complications through proper physical training and support,” said Amy Taylor-Greengard, Saint Therese Rehab Executive Director.

Saint Therese believes this integrated approach to care will help patients manage their cardiac health condition and keep them at home.