KNOW YOUR NON-PROFIT


During American Heart Month, we take time to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, support advances in heart research and recognize those heart patients who are fighting and winning the heart disease war. Locally, it is also an opportunity to remind the increasing number of heart patients in the Rogue Valley that they are not alone in their recovery.


MENDED HEARTS, a national nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Heart Association and aligned with the American College of Cardiology, offers the gift of hope to heart disease patients, their families and caregivers. Recognized for its role in facilitating a positive patient-care experience, Mended Hearts partners with 460 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics and offers services to heart patients through visiting programs, support group meetings and educational forums. Their mission is to “inspire hope in heart disease patients and their families.”


This year Mended Hearts celebrates their 60th anniversary with the theme: Our Foundation for the Future, recognizing our foundation built over the years that will continue to support our future endeavors.


ROGUE VALLEY CHAPTER Local chapter #137, celebrating 30 years of service at the end of this year, was formed on November 16, 1982. Their local volunteers (heart patients themselves) are trained visitors offering the gift of hope currently in partnership with Rogue Valley Medical Center. Chapter president, Marlyn Taylor, states “One might say ‘we’ve been there - done that’ when it comes to successfully managing the challenges of this often overwhelming disease. We invite any heart patient, family member of caregiver to let us know if we can help - either through a visit or by attending our regularly scheduled meetings. It is also important to recognize the care-giver and the part they play in the recovery and life after the event. The chapter has members who have joined along with the spouse who had the bypass, valve replacement, or pacemaker insert.”


Most members join as a show of support, some only attend monthly meetings, some are active members who visit patients in the hospital. Visiting members have themselves had heart related procedures.


Chapter #137 Picnic


Because Mended Hearts is made up of the very kinds of people it serves - heart patients, their families, and others impacted by heart disease; its members draw on personal experience as they help others. Annually, Mended Hearts volunteers make 227,000 hospital visits to patients and 30,000 visits to family members and caregivers around the country.


It’s great to be alive – and to help others!


PROGRAMS & RESOURCES In Person Visiting Program is the core of Mended Hearts’ services. Heart patient volunteers, specifically trained and accredited by the organization, make hospital visits offering encouragement to heart patients before or after their procedure. Visits are also increasing to patients diagnosed with angina, hypertension or heart attack who don’t need surgery. The trained visitors also provide educational information such as recommendations for healthy lifestyle choices and tips for medication adherence as well as suggestions for managing depression, which is common after a heart event and can complicate recovery.


Internet Visiting/Phone Support provides online and phone support in areas where face-to-face visits from local members are not available. Support Groups show people that a rich, rewarding life is possible after heart disease. Members listen, share their experiences, and discuss matters relating to lifestyle changes, depression, recovery and treatment. Health Information Workshops where healthcare professionals and businesses provide valuable information and answer questions.


Mended Little Hearts. Mended Little Hearts was launched in 2004 to provide support and encouragement to parents of children born with congenital heart defects and heart disease.


National Convention held annually to train volunteers, provide the latest cardiovascular health information, and offer networking opportunities. PATH Pack (Patients and Their Hearts) offered by trained visitors at hospital visits to heart patients/family. The PATH pack includes health information, support group connections, guide to making healthy lifestyle changes and information on local Mended Hearts chapters.


After the Cath Lab: A Guide to Recovery. An educational packet offered to heart patients/family just before or after a catheterization procedure (customized for cath lab patients). It has health information, guide for making healthy lifestyle changes, maintaining a good quality of life after angioplasty, and local chapter information.


CardioSmart, a patient education and support program launched by MHI’s new partner, American College of Cardiology to engage, inform, and empower patients to prepare them for participation in their own care. Heartbeat, a quarterly national magazine with health information, survivor stories and chapter news. It also highlights a national network of caring individuals to connect with for support on their road to recovery.


Marlyn Taylor , chapter president, states: “We feel that it is important for a patient to see someone who has had a heart problem and gone through an experience similar to what they are recovering from - someone who can relate to what they are feeling and be able to say, as I can, ‘I feel better


today than I did for the 15 years leading up to my surgery’.”


Calling all Grants Pass volunteers: Marlyn Taylor informs us that he is been working with the Rehab Center at Three Rivers Hospital about starting a group there to have monthly education and sharing meetings to help support patients and their families in better understanding and living with hearts disease. “All we need are the local area volunteers to help make this happen.”


Local chapter meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30pm in the Smullin Center at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford. Chapter 137 holds two social events each year, a picnic in August and a Christmas no host lunch in early December. At this lunch, members bring items to be raffled off and raffle ticket funds are split 50/50: 50% to a lucky winner and 50% to the chapter. The chapter is strictly funded by dues paid by members, which include both National and Local dues. The chapter is currently in need of a volunteer to organize fundraising events.


During American Heart Month, Mended Hearts invites current heart patients to request a hospital visit and invites those who have recovered to become involved in helping others. To learn more about the services and outreach offered to heart patients, contact the local chapter at 541.476.4555 or the national organization at 1.888.432.7899 or visit the national website online at www.mendedhearts.org.


Mended Hearts Recognizes Heart Care at RVMC


Rogue Valley Medical Center earned the Regional Hospital of the Year Award for outstanding service in support of the Mended Hearts visiting program. It is the first Hospital in the West outside of California to earn this distinction. RVMC was nominated by the local chapter “because it provides an atmosphere that encourages and nurtures volunteer programs,” said Marlyn Taylor, president of the local Mended Hearts Chapter 137. “The heart center staff has a strong working relationship with Mended Hearts, and we really appreciate that support.”


Presentation of Mended Hearts Regional Hospital of


The Year Award (from left to right) to Kent Brown, RVMC Chief Executive Officer, Marlyn Taylor, Assistant Regional Director, Western Region & local Mended Hearts Chapter President, Amanda Abrams, Clinical Manager, Heart Center/Outpatient Observation Unit of Rogue Valley Medical Center .


February 2012 ♦ YOUNG AT HEART 17


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