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Posted at: 11/04/2009 5:14 PM | WHEC.com Popular therapy program to be phased out?
Cost cutting at Strong Memorial Hospital is prompting officials to take a second look at its heart rehab program and possibly close it. Last February, 72-year-old Dennis Slimmer of Pittsford had major heart surgery. He credits his speedy recovery to the cardiac rehab program at strong memorial hospital. “It's an excellent program and having quintuple bypass surgery I feel great.” Slimmer has gone through a three-phase program at Strong which started with his care in the hospital, continued when he became an out-patient and now includes a long term maintenance or fitness component. Slimmer is concerned though. Strong is considering ending the third phase. That would impact him and 400 others. “It's not just a fitness center because of the resources that are there. The individuals are all trained in cardiac nursing. There's cardiac physicians on duty as well.” Hospital Spokesperson Terry D’Aagostino explains the dilemma. “The program is running a mounting deficit. In addition to that we've been uncomfortable for a while that the program can't offer the full range of fitness options. We can't really compete with the kinds of options that would be available at a health club.” Like a swimming pool. D’Agostino says ideally the hospital would like to partner with a health club. “For us to break even, unfortunately we would have to charge all of the members $2,400 which would really make it unaffordable to some of those members.” But Slimmer isn't convinced. “If it means costing us some more money, I think individuals would be willing to do that.” Strong has not made any final decisions yet. D'Agostino says it will only go with a program that meets hospital standards and has the same emergency protocols. The hospital says the program costs $2,400 a year for each patient while they only charge $800. For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.
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Print Story
Has recovery after an illness or surgery become too expensive? The rising cost of health care may force one local hospital to phase out a popular therapy program. This is a story News 10NBC has received letters and e-mails about.