At BayCare, the commitment to helping patients achieve long-term health goes beyond traditional medical care. Through innovative programs like the intensive cardiac rehabilitation (ICR) at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, BayCare is addressing the complex nature of cardiovascular disease and empowering patients to take control of their health.
Like traditional cardiac rehab, ICR is designed for patients who have had a major cardiac event — like valve repair or replacement, heart transplant, heart attack, bypass surgery, stenting, angioplasty, chronic heart failure or stable angina — and can be referred for ICR by their physician.
The therapy consists of two-hour sessions three times a week, the first hour providing personalized health screenings, fitness assessments, exercise, and medication reviews. All exercise is closely monitored with electrocardiograms (EKGs) and blood pressure checks before, during and after activity.
The second hour is what sets ICR apart. It includes interactive workshops and cooking demonstrations, teaching patients how to prepare heart-healthy meals and make informed choices. Patients also receive practical tools like weekly meal planners, grocery lists and recipes to help sustain their progress at home.
“It’s a program that goes beyond just exercise,” said Lori Meyer, a clinical nurse II for the ICR program. “The level of patient oversight not only ensures safety but also empowers patients to understand their bodies and progress, maximizing their chances for recovery and sustained health.”
Randy Maxson, who had valve replacement surgery, is one of the many patients who has seen life-changing results from the program.
A Coast Guard veteran and Clearwater resident, Maxson had been seeing BayCare Medical Group cardiologist and electrophysiologist Jonathan Hobson, MD since 2010 for AFib, an irregular heartbeat. He had several procedures to normalize his heart rhythm, but an echocardiogram early in his diagnosis indicated an issue unrelated to AFib: a faulty heart valve. Dr. Hobson monitored the valve annually, preparing Maxson that it would eventually need replacement.
