Sponsorship lets Southlake deliver cardiac services close to home

Cardiac patients in remote areas of York Region, Simcoe County and Muskoka will benefit from improved access to lifesaving cardiac prevention and rehabilitation services, thanks to a sponsorship from Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

Merck Frosst recently officially presented the cardiac prevention and rehab program, a division of Southlake Regional Health Centre's cardiac care program with a cheque for $100,000. The sponsorship will be used to establish a home-based cardiac rehab program, a smoking cessation program, instructional videos for patients and families, and to broadcast educational information from Southlake to other hospitals via teleconferencing.

"These new services provide cardiac patients with a viable alternative to receive the education and support they need to prevent further damage of their hearts," commented Dr. David Fell, physician leader of Southlake's regional cardiac care program. "These services would not be possible without the financial support of Merck Frosst."

Designed specifically to reduce such barriers as travel time, cost, transportation issues and scheduling conflicts, Merck Frosst was supportive of sponsoring the development of the new services and educational resources.

"We are pleased to collaborate on a program that focuses on patients' well-being," said Jeff Spencer, a director for business with Merck Frosst. "This important initiative will play a crucial role in providing the best care possible to patients living with cardiovascular diseases."

For Marlene Metzger, the home-based cardiac rehab program has been a lifesaver for this busy Unionville resident.

"Travelling twice a week from Unionville to attend the cardiac rehab program at Southlake wasn't an option for me," she explained. "My mother is 95 years old and it is important to me that I be available to support her on a daily basis. By having an exercise program designed specifically for me that I can follow at home has been terrific."

"I was impressed to learn that my program was made possible through a sponsorship from Merck Frosst," she added. "I think it is admirable that companies such as Merck Frosst go the extra mile to support creative ways to improve the health and wellbeing of heart patients."

The concept of the homebased cardiac rehab program was formed among seven hospitals: Huronia District Hospital, Muskoka Algonquin Health Care, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Stevenson Memorial Hospital and Southlake. In 2003, this group came together to address the challenges faced by patients living in outlying areas of York , Simcoe and Muskoka to access lifesaving cardiac rehabilitation services as close to home as possible. With Southlake as the coordinating site and through the support of Merck Frosst, the group was successful in designing the home-based cardiac rehab program that enables lowrisk cardiac patients to participate in prescribed, individualized exercises within their own home. Patients eligible to participate in the program only visit the hospital for their initial assessment, scheduled check-ups with their doctor or when they need extra support from a dietitian, pharmacist or social worker.

Merck Frosst is one of Canada's leading researchbased pharmaceutical companies. It discovers and develops a broad range of innovative medicines to improve human health. The company is also committed to fostering partnerships to deliver the most valuable health outcome for Canadian patients.

The cardiac prevention and rehab program was established in 1998 and is located at The Tannery Mall, 465 Davis Dr. in Newmarket. It is supported by a dedicated team of physicians, registered nurses, kinesiologists, a dietitian, pharmacist and social worker. To date the program has assessed, educated and followed more that 3,500 patients living with heart disease.

More information regarding the many services provided by the program can be found on the hospital's Web site. The address is http://www.southlakeregiona l.org/cardiac.preventionreha b.html