PROVIDENCE – Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are among the leading causes of death in Southern New England, a statistic Tufts Health Plan is helping to curb by offering members access to the Lifespan Corp. Cardiovascular Institute’s Dean Ornish Intensive Cardiac Rehab Program in East Greenwich.
The facility boasts a kitchen for whole-food, plant-based cooking demonstrations, a yoga and meditation room, an indoor walking track, and a space for resistance training and cardiovascular exercise equipment. There is also a team of medical professionals, from nurses to stress-management specialists, all working to help patients significantly improve their heart health.
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Lifespan approached Tufts in January with the idea to offer its members coverage for the program, the only one of its kind in the state, said Michele Wolfsberg, senior manager for clinical strategy at Tufts.
Executives at Tufts met with the institute team to see how the system works and were impressed, Wolfsberg said.
“We’re super happy to see this type of program available in this area,” she said.
Wolfsberg said the Intensive Cardiac Rehab Program is comprehensive and based on the patient’s lifestyle. The approach focuses not just on a patient’s physical well-being but on stress, nutrition and emotional support. She said it’s a holistic approach to improving the health of people with cardiac conditions.
Patients commit to participation in a group with others experiencing similar cardiac issues. Together, the group participates in activities designed to improve physical activity and nutrition, develop stress-management techniques and build a social network for support.
The nine-week program consists of two sessions per week, each lasting four hours. The program has helped patients with cardiac disease to:
- Lower their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Decrease the frequency and severity of angina (chest pain).
- Lose weight and decrease depression.
- Reduce cardiac events and the need for medication.
- Lower chances of future surgery.
According to the program, nearly 90 percent of participants continue following the program one year later, and just 30-50 percent of those prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs were still taking them after six months.
“This program is more intensive than a traditional cardiac rehab and has demonstrated incredible results in clinical trials,” said Dr. Claire Levesque, chief medical officer of commercial plans at Tufts Health Plan. “We want our members to have access to the best support available and look forward to helping more Rhode Islanders living with cardiac disease get stronger and healthier in collaboration with the Dean Ornish Program.”
The program helped a number of patients, said Dr. Wen-Chih “Hank” Wu, medical director of the Lifespan Center for Cardiac Fitness in Providence.
“We are delighted that we will be able to assist more patients in achieving better cardiac health through the Ornish program, thanks to coverage from Tufts Health Plan,” Wu said.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
