Esperance Hearts in Good Hands
We introduce you to some of our Amity Health Esperance team, who provide support and rehabilitation to people who have experienced a heart attack, have heart disease, or are at risk of developing heart disease.
Pictured: Amity Health’s Sue (Registered Nurse/Care Coordinator) & Cris (Exercise Trainer)
Esperance can seem a long way from Perth, particularly when you need medical support following a life changing episode, such as a cardiac event.
Returning to Esperance from Perth can lead to feelings of fear and uncertainty about your ongoing health journey, and the help and support you may need once home.
Suzanne is a registered nurse and chronic disease care coordinator, who along with her colleague, exercise trainer Cris, provide local cardiac support, exercise and education, through the WiseHealth program, from their Amity Health Esperance office in Dempster Street.
How can you join the program?
If you are based in Esperance or outlying areas, have a discussion with your doctor about being involved in our WiseHealth program. If eligible, your GP can provide a referral along with a GP Management Plan.
What does the program look like?
If you’ve had any cardiac event or have heart disease and need further support after attending cardiac rehabilitation, WiseHealth is a maintenance program that aims to further reduce your risk of another cardiac event.
After an initial assessment, you will join a small group, exercising weekly under the monitoring and supervision of Sue and Cris.
What benefits will you gain from joining the program?
1. You are not alone on this journey - meet local people with similar experiences
2. Knowledge is power - understand more about your heart condition in a relaxed environment
3. Learn risk factors - reduce your specific risk factors
4. Secondary prevention (1 in 4 people will experience a 2nd heart attack) - take control.
Once a person is diagnosed with heart disease, it’s a lifelong condition requiring ongoing management which cannot be ignored.
Sue and Cris encourage everyone to never miss a beat by having a heart health check. The heart health check is only a 20-minute checkup with your GP, but it could save your life!
Guest Author: Suzanne Mitchell – Registered Nurse/ICDC Coordinator
