Cardiac patients welcoming rehab center.

Byline: Anna L. Griffin

LEOMINSTER - Last September, Del Braman visited the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at HealthAlliance Hospitals-Leominster Campus and signed up for the exercise program.

Because, he said, "I'd much rather live than die."

Mr. Braman, of Lancaster, came to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center after having three stents implanted in his arteries. A stent is a wire metal mesh tube used to prop open an artery during angioplasty and hold the artery open. It remains in the artery , holds it open, improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms.

"My doctor recommended I check this program out and I am glad I did," Mr. Braman said. "I feel my health has improved greatly."

After spending several weeks participating in the program, Mr. Braman said he felt confident enough to continue his exercise routine at home.

"And I've added a few more things, but I feel just great. These are the best people in the world," Mr. Braman said.

Mr. Braman was one of many satisfied clients

who turned out for the recent open house at the new home of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. The center is located under the parking lot B at the Leominster campus.

In 1982, the then-Leominster Hospital opened the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. For a few years, after the merger of Leominster Hospital and Burbank Hospital to form HealthAlliance Hospitals, the program was located at the Burbank campus, but it was returned to the Leominster campus in 2004.

Several months ago, a renovation project was undertaken, and the new home of the center was opened April 24.

"There was just one day when the center was closed at its former location, and then reopened here at our new location," said Scherrie D. Carey, a registered nurse and manager of the center.

"We have so much more room here than in our former location," Ms. Carey said. "We have shower facilities, so people can use this room, shower and go to work. We have more room for our exercise equipment. It's just a better space all the way around."

Ms. Carey said patients are either self-referred or physician-referred to the center. The level of the exercise program they are engaged in depends on the individual patient and what has been prescribed for them by their doctors.

Some of the people using the room come after some type of cardiac event or procedure; others are on a maintenance program, continuing to use the services of the facility after their initial course of rehabilitation.

The program offers independent aerobic exercise and strength training; on-site supervision by cardiac rehabilitation staff; individually prescribed exercise written by the medical director based on a recent stress test; blood pressure monitoring at each station; a weekly health status monitoring; individual and group education on heart disease; and lifestyle changes and socialization and support.

"We always knew we had a wonderful staff, now we have the great space to match that," said Dr. Nicholas Mercadante, medical director for the center.

Information can be obtained by calling the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at [phone].

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Del Braman of Lancaster speaks with Chris Leger, a registered nurse at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at HealthAlliance Hospitals-Leominster Campus.

PHOTOG: ANNA L. GRIFFIN