Rehab complete

The process took years longer than expected, but now patients who need cardiac or pulmonary outpatient rehabilitation have a new space.

IU Health Jay opened its new cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center last month and will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday.

Those attending the open house should use entrance B, take the elevator to the second floor and follow signs to the new facility.

The new facility is part of a larger renovation project first announced in late 2020. Construction was initially expected to be complete in 2021, but long delays because of the coronavirus pandemic and supply chain issues pushed the timeline back significantly.

“It’s very rewarding,” said nurse Tammy Muhlenkamp, manager of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center. The new facility opened Jan. 15. “It’s been a long time coming, but we’re very pleased with the space and the patients seem happy about the way it’s laid out.

“And we have the opportunity for growth here as well.”

The program through what was then Jay County Hospital started with just cardiac rehab located at the former Vormohr Medical Center on county road 100 South. It had since moved with supervising physician Jerry Whetzel to IU Health Jay Family Medicine on the hospital campus and over the years added pulmonary rehabilitation and supervised exercise for patients with peripheral artery disease. (The program is building toward offering supervised exercise for patients with chronic illnesses.)

The move to IU Health Jay has more than doubled the size of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center with additional room for growth if needed. It also allows more flexibility as previously its availability was tied to when IU Health Jay Family Medicine was open.

“Here we’re able to expand our hours a little bit if needed,” said Muhlenkamp. “With having our code team on site, we have emergency personnel on-site. So it does make it more convenient for us and our patients.”

The expanded space — at about 3,500 square feet it is more than double its previous size — is designed specifically for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. (The former unit was located in what was previously Dr. Stephen Myron's office.)

Modeled after the cardiopulmonary unit at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, it has more of an open concept. There are bicycles and treadmills — a few more than previously offered — for aerobic exercise as well as a short track for walking and testing. Added to the new facility is equipment for resistance training.

Patient Walt Schwieterman said he finds the new space to be brighter and more inviting.

“I think it’s beautiful, I really do,” he said while riding the bike during a rehabilitation session last week. “When I came in here, it really impressed me.”

Muhlenkamp explained that the goal is to manage chronic diseases for patients through exercise.

For cardiac patients, that means exercising with a heart monitor to improve conditioning. Pulmonary patients will be monitored for oxygen saturation and blood pressure.

Patients are also provided with education about managing their risk factors.

“Heart disease is one of the main causes of death in the United States and worldwide,” said Muhlenkamp. “So if we can educate our patients, help rehabilitate … that’s a big win for everybody.”

“If we can help patients to exercise and build their strength overall, it can improve quality of life.”

IU Health Jay’s cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center is regularly staffed by a nurse and exercise physiologist. They also work with an interdisciplinary team, including a dietician, social worker and respiratory therapist, to provide other services that a patient might need.

Construction of the new facility was paid for with part of the $5 million IU Health contributed to a capital improvement fund at the time of Jay County Hospital’s integration into the larger healthcare organization. Jay County Hospital Board, which became the IU Health Jay Board for three years before being dissolved, was in charge of allocating those dollars. In addition to the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center, it selected creating new spaces for outpatient physical therapy and outpatient behavioral health as well as the expansion of the Family First practice. Leftover funds were used to establish the IU Health Jay Hospital Legacy Endowment Fund through The Portland Foundation.