- Robert Swartzmiller, center, holds up a certificate commemorating his 1,000th visit to The Bellevue Hospital's Cardiac Rehab Department. Making the presentation are Denise Bullion, RN, CDE, left, and Hollie Alda, RN, right.
The Bellevue Hospital’s (TBH) Cardiac Rehabilitation staff recently helped a local resident celebrate a wellness milestone.
Robert Swartzmiller was honored for being the first Cardiac Rehab patient to hit the 1,000-visit milestone. Swartzmiller began coming to Cardiac Rehab after suffering a heart attack in 2005. He has been coming three times a week ever since.
“Patients enter what we call the Phase II Rehab Program right after a heart incident,” explained Denise Bullion, RN, CDE, with the Cardiac Rehab Department. “That involves setting up a program and diet suggestions and monitoring their progress. Then they enter the Phase III Program, like Bob has done, which focuses on maintenance and wellness.”
The typical one-hour rehab session may find Phase III patients riding a stationary bicycle, using the treadmill, the recumbent equipment, and/or the Arc Trainer machine, which was donated to the department by TBH Volunteers. “It is hard to believe that the girls (in Cardiac Rehab) have put up with me for over 1,000 visits,” quipped Swartzmiller. “But for me, coming here gives me focus to exercise and to get out of the house. I always tell people, ‘Don’t let that Lazy Boy chair attack your butt.’ Get up and move.”
Bullion and the Cardiac Rehab staff members threw a small “party” for Swartzmiller recently, giving him a certificate to recognize his 1,000th visit, along with a card good for 12 free Cardiac Rehab sessions. Swartzmiller and his wife, Judy, reside in Bellevue. They are parents of four children and five grandchildren.
“We are happy that Bob continues to come here to stay on track with his health. He is also an inspiration to all of our patients who are just starting through the program. They can see that something good can come out of the rehab process,” added Bullion. She noted that patients pay a nominal $5 fee per visit to use the equipment.
For additional information on any of TBH’s cardiac services, contact Bullion at 419.483.4040, Ext. 4303.