The Bernie Guida Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center – Providing Heart Health and Lasting Friendships
The Bernie Guida Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Bristol Hospital serves patients who have had a heart attack, are recovering from open heart surgery, experience angina, or have a high risk for heart disease. Programs at the Center are designed to help heart patients reach their highest level of wellness. The highly skilled and trained staff of board-certified cardiologists perform both invasive and non-invasive heart procedures as well as a variety of adult diagnostic procedures on patients age eighteen and older, to help pinpoint problems and allow early, effective treatment.
The 3,000-square foot facility has been upgraded and moved to a couple of different locations in the hospital over the years and opened under its current name in 2014, after a donation from the Guida family. The facility has exercise equipment and staff that offer programs for heart patients, made up of three phases that are tailored to fit each patient’s needs. The three phases cover exercise, education, nutrition, counseling, and psychosocial support in different classes. Patients typically begin their programs after a medical procedure or condition, and each patient’s program is designed by the facility’s team and the patient’s doctor. Phase one is the day that the patient is admitted to the hospital, and phase two is when the patient enters the program after a physician’s referral. Phase three is optional, but helps the facility reach its main goal of strengthening and educating the patient, as well as modifying their risk factors.
“Many patients in the program choose to continue with phase three and to attend classes not only to maintain good heart health, but for the friendships that they have developed with the staff and other patients,” stated Ann Robinson, Lead RN Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation. “Many patients form lasting friendships after going through our program and continue to attend classes at the facility for many years – it becomes almost like a support group.”
Employees of Bristol Hospital will have the opportunity to participate in “Heart Healthy” activities all month long. Coordinated and hosted by Ann Robinson and her team at the Bernie Guida Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, they will be able to purchase tickets for a chance to win a raffle basket and “hearts” will be for sale in memory of or in honor of loved ones which will be displayed in the cafeteria of the Hospital. There will also be cardiac education materials distributed to all employees and the public to educate people how to detect the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and what to expect when dealing with heart disease and heart-related illnesses.
Founded in 1921, Bristol Hospital is the leading health provider for people who live and work in the Greater Bristol area. Proud of its achievements in service excellence, Bristol Hospital has earned national recognition for its commitment to providing outstanding patient care.
To learn more about cardiac rehabilitation at the Bernie Guida Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, please call 860.585.3580 or visit the Bristol Hospital website at: https://www.bristolhospital.org/services/cardiac-care/heartworks-cardiac-rehab.aspx
Photo: Dr. Fawad A. Kazi, M.D., Medical Director of Cardiology for Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty Group is a board-certified cardiologist.
The Cardiology office of Bristol Hospital is located at 22 Pine Street. For an appointment, call 1-833-4BHDOCS.