Munroe Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that its cardiovascular center of excellence, Munroe Heart, is forming a new Mended Hearts Chapter in Ocala.
In an effort to secure support for a growing number of heart patients in the Ocala area, Munroe Heart is seeking help from heart patient survivors and other interested persons to form a local chapter of Mended Hearts, affiliated with the American Heart Association.
The Mended Hearts, Inc. is a national non-profit support organization that includes heart patients, spouses, healthcare professionals, and others interested in helping patients with the emotional recovery from heart disease. With 280 community-based chapters nationwide, Mended Hearts has 24,000 members, making it the nation’s largest heart-related patient support group.
“Members assist cardiac patients with an extensive accredited visitors program, support groups, health information workshops, social/special events, and other volunteer activities,” says Carol Floyd, director of Cardiovascular Services, who is spearheading efforts to form a chapter in Ocala. “Mended Hearts has been offering hope and encouragement to heart patients, families and caregivers for 50 years, and the outreach and support is a proven benefit to the community.”
Floyd adds that while heart patient-to-patient visits are at the core of Mended Hearts’ program, volunteers do not have to be a patient. “We want others in the community involved as well. Caregivers, family members of patients, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals are a few examples of potentially interested persons,” she says.
An organizational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at Munroe’s Auxiliary Conference Center. The Conference Center is located at 1542 S.W. 1st Avenue in Ocala.
Interested persons are encouraged to contact Munroe’s Health Resource Line at (352) 867-8181 for more information and to pre-register for the meeting.