Recently Community Care Center in Stuart partnered with the American Heart Association and Wellmark to host a new cardiac program.

The American Heart Association put together the program, called “Check. Change. Control.,” and with the help of Wellmark got it started, and will be implementing it at Community Care Center and two other pilot sites across the state, with Community Care Center being the first to receive the equipment and materials.

AHA Community Impact Director Wesley Franklin tells Raccoon Valley Radio why they decided to look at starting the program.

“Well, it’s all about educating the community. We know heart disease is still the number one killer throughout the US, and throughout the world. And so, this is a great way we can collaborate with, of course, Wellmark and Community Care Center, and to help educate and reinforce the importance of knowing your numbers and taking advantage of your heart health going forward.”

Wellmark Representative Chris Verlingia explains why they chose to help implement the program.

“So this was a program that, as we designed kind of the makeup and where we would be testing this, the pilot sites, you know, Wesley and the AHA team, credit to them for identifying very early on that this is something we especially wanted to focus in rural Iowa. And so that immediately attracted us to the program, because it was so consistent and had great synergy with the work that we were already doing within our own walls.”

Community Care Center Administrator Maradith Janssen shares why it was important for the care facility to take part in this program.

“You know. In long term care, assisted living and even in our outpatient rehab, we do see a lot of cardiac issues that have led to things down the line. The strokes that become the permanent disabilities. And so we just feel that this is a great opportunity to partner with both Wellmark and American Heart Association to bring it to the community, so that it’s right here in rural Iowa.”

Participants of the program will set goals and regularly check their blood pressure through the four month program. A list of the classes participants will take part of can be found below.

October 11th: 1st Class – Controlling Your Blood Pressure
November 8th: 2nd Class – Eat Smart
December 6th: 3rd Class – Move More
January 17th: 4th Class – Mental Health and Well-Being