Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Blount Memorial Foundation Healthy Heart Fund helps our neighbors in need access vital resources that support heart health. This includes funding scholarships for the hospital’s Medical Fitness Center, which helps people improve cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination following a heart attack or stroke, or to improve overall cardiovascular function.
The Healthy Heart Fund also helps people facing financial difficulties afford essential medications needed to control high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other cardiac-related medical issues.
This fund also provides scales for individuals being discharged after a cardiac episode. The patient is weighed on that scale before discharge. When they arrive home, that scale is then used to monitor weight gain thus monitoring fluid retention.
Blount Memorial Hospital’s Medical Fitness Center
Scholarships for patients
Blount Memorial Foundation provides scholarships for qualified individuals who have been cleared by their doctor to participate in physical activity. The Medical Fitness Center provides exercise opportunities with medical oversight, monitoring heart rate after each activity.
Throughout 2022, the Foundation assisted patients with 44 months of scholarships to the Medical Fitness Center.
In 2021 the Foundation provided 31 months of scholarships to the Medical Fitness Center through the Healthy Heart Fund.
Equipment for patients
In fiscal year 2022, the Foundation provided just over $69,000 in potentially lifesaving cardiac care and equipment from the Healthy Heart Fund. These items included a LUCAS device, recumbent bikes, treadmills, and transport chairs.
With funding from the Healthy Heart Fund, Blount Memorial Foundation Board of Directors approved the purchase of 3 recumbent bikes for Blount Memorial Hospital’s Medical Fitness Center. As part of the Foundation’s mission to purchase much needed equipment to improve patients’ healthy outcomes, these bikes increased the capacity of the center.
Prescription Assistance
With funding from Healthy Heart Fund, Blount Memorial Foundation provided $261.29 in cardiac medication assistance for patients in 2021.
