Client Marilyn Sotille says the Steps to Wellness program has helped her greatly.

Dosher expands heart health services

Dosher Memorial Hospital's "Steps to Wellness" program may be new, but the positive results already are evident. Housed at the Cardiac Rehabilitation department at Dosher Wellness Center off of Middleton Boulevard, the program is aimed at reducing patients' risks for heart disease and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Cardiac Rehab Manager Natalie Swiger says the goal of the program is to, "Provide a unique, prevention-as-treatment approach for individuals who have heart disease, are at risk for developing heart disease, or have some other condition that would benefit from exercising in a medically supervised setting."

The staff at Cardiac Rehab achieves this by customizing the exercise program for each participant. Staff monitors blood pressure, heart rhythm, and heart rate to ensure participants are progressing safely. Also, the staff discusses topics such as nutrition, stress reduction and cholesterol to promote a healthy lifestyle outside of the exercise setting.

So far, the statistics gathered reflect the goal of the program. Participation satisfaction rating is a perfect 100 percent. Close to one-third improved one or more aspects of heart health, and nearly two-thirds increased knowledge and awareness of steps do to so.

"These strong results also reflect that we provide a high staff-to-patient ratio, which is rare in the healthcare world. Because the program is an ongoing commitment, patients get to see real results and this motivates them to keep coming back," Swiger adds.

The membership fee to join Dosher's Steps for Wellness program is $100 for a total of 12 sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. For more information, call 910-454-1234.