provided by ADVENTHEALTH
DAVENPORT, FLA — On Tuesday, August 13, AdventHealth Heart of Florida leaders and patients celebrated the opening of an expanded cardiac rehab unit, doubling the number of patients that can be treated and reducing wait time before new patients can enroll in the program.
Before the expansion, the unit was treating an average of 56 patients a month. With the new space, the team will be able to double that volume and reduce the wait time before enrollment.
AdventHealth Heart of Florida’s Cardiac Rehab Unit has been working to help people recover and get on the road to a happier, healthier life through physical therapy, cardiac-friendly diets, smoking cessation, and more. Many of the patients in the program are older and live alone, so in addition to treating their bodies, the program also helps raise their spirits.
Dr. Ruth Borger, a retired member of the University of Florida’s Citrus Research Center, joined the cardiac rehab program at AdventHealth Heart of Florida in January 2024 after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest in a theme park parking lot in September 2023. The 67-year-old credits good Samaritans for performing CPR before she underwent triple bypass surgery. She praised the rehab staff for their attentive care and said the program improved her endurance, strength and balance.
“They were able to give me personalized, tailored coaching on what I should be doing and why it was important for me. I felt very cared for and felt very special that they were concerned about my health and recovery,” Borger said.
Borger completed the program, but she said she has been building on what she learned there as part of her efforts to continue to be healthy.
“I pretty much walk every day; I do strength training. So, I built on what they have taught me. It is not a one-time thing. It is part of my life now. I think by doing it so regularly, with proper coaching and guidance, it helps create those good habits and gives me the confidence to know I can do this. It has made a huge, huge difference in my physical recovery, but also in my emotional and mental health,” Borger said.
The unit is located at 40124 US HWY 27 in Davenport, on the second floor of the physician building and next door to the new AdventHealth Medical Group cardiologist suite. It will have eight stations dedicated to Cardiac Rehab patients that include: free weights, two treadmills, Nustep, leg press, lat pull, total upper body exerciser, and mid row machines. The unit will also be able to hold more classes with cardiac patients and the staff. This is phase one of the unit’s expansion. AdventHealth plans to expand the unit further to add even more space to care for patients.
Nationwide, The CDC says cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease mortality are increasing in working-age adults.
Cardiologists at AdventHealth Heart of Florida are also seeing more people dealing with heart disease and other cardiac issues.
According to the most recently available CDC data, Polk County saw more than 109 heart disease deaths per 100,000 people, ages 35-64 in 2019. That ranked 36th among counties in Florida.
“We are thrilled that this phase of the expansion is complete, and we can now help even more patients recover and get healthier and stronger,” said Beverly Johnson, Manager of Non-invasive Cardiology at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. “This is all part of our on-going mission to provide exceptional whole-person care to members of our community.”
You can learn more about the cardiac rehab program by calling 863-419-1811 or by going to www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-heart-florida/our-services/rehab-care/specialty-rehab-programs
