Bon Secours St Francis Opens First Cardiac Rehab Center in Chesterfield County

Richmond, Va. (July 31, 2018) – Bon Secours Richmond Health System has opened a new Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center which marks the health system’s first Cardiac Rehab Center in Chesterfield County, expanding access to quality cardiac care for patients who have been diagnosed with heart disease or who are recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery.

“We are excited to open a new Cardiac Rehab Center that’s south of the James River to complement our two locations at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital and Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center,” said Ross Barber, director of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at Bon Secours Virginia Health System. “We are proud that the multidisciplinary cardiac rehab team at St. Francis Medical Center brings more than 125 years of combined nursing experience to benefit our patients on their journey to recovery from heart disease.”  

Upon referral to the Cardiac Rehab Center by a cardiologist, each patient meets with trained health care providers for a one-on-one evaluation and medical workup. The staff will create an individualized plan of cardiac rehabilitation lasting approximately 12-18 weeks. A cardiac rehab plan at Bon Secours includes a thoughtful flow of safe, supervised exercise conditioning and strength training that gradually increases in intensity, along with nutritional counseling and emotional support.

“Primary goals are to help patients maintain a healthy heart and enjoy an improved quality of life,” said Mark Doloresco, M.D., a cardiologist with Cardiovascular Associates of Virginia who practices at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center. “Expected outcomes of effective cardiac rehabilitation are increased stamina and endurance, improved stress management skills, reduced need for hospital readmission and reduced length of stay if the patient is hospitalized. These wellness outcomes are hallmarks of the top caliber patient-centered care provided by all three Bon Secours Cardiac Rehab Centers serving the Richmond region.”