The RNS Cardiopulmonary Center, at the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation , opened in 1998 through a $110,000.00 gift from RNS. The center was designed to restore independence and an active life style, as soon as possible, after the recognition of heart and pulmonary disease. Patients may be physician or self-referred following heart attack, bypass or valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, stable angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, port heart and lung transplantation or other cardiopulmonary diseases. Following a stress test, individualized programs will include exercise, nutritional counceling and education on modification of risk factors.
Thanks to another generous grant of $160,000.00 from RNS in 2002, the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation, became the only facility in the region to offer a non-invasive treatment for angina called Enhanced External Counter Pulsation or EECP Therapy. EECP delivers oxygenated blood to the heart without any work on the part of the patient – no needles, no tubes or medications and pain free. Evidence shows that EECP therapy encourages the growth of tiny collateral vessels that supplement the capabilities of the obstructed vessels, improving blood flow and lowering angina suffering.
With another donation of $150,000.00 in 2014, for the upgrading of the Cardiopulmonary Center, the center will become like a health club, with treadmills, stationary bicycles and other exercise equipment. But, unlike a health club, the center will be staffed by therapists and physiologists specially trained to oversee a physician – supervised controlled exercise program.
The need for state of the art equipment is more important than ever as demanded for cardiac rehabilitation grows.
For RNS’s continued generosity and support of the Bacharach Rehabilitation Center, the new and upgraded center will be renamed the “RNS Cardiac Rehab Center”.