Published on October 12, 2011

Mended Hearts Recognizes Heart Care at RVMC

Rogue Valley Medical Center has 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.

Mended Hearts is a national organization that provides free counseling, education, and support  to people who have heart surgery through trained volunteers.  The local chapter has been active since 1982.

“We nominated Rogue Valley Medical Center 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.”

An example of that support is a CD the education department created for patients to see before surgery. It includes a clip of a Mended Hearts volunteer talking with a patient. The CD provides an overview to the patient that provides knowledge and to help reduce the anxiety that can go along with having surgery.

“Our local Chapter is grateful for the support of the Rogue Valley Medical Center and we are honored that the hospital was chosen to receive this award,” said Taylor. “We are grateful that we have a hospital in the area that is of the quality that Rogue Valley Medical Center represents.”

The criteria for the award includes the following:

• Helpful in making it easy for a Mended Hearts visiting member to make contact with heart patients who have undergone heart surgeries. 
• Provides Mended Hearts visitors reasonable access to patients
• Provides for cath patient and family visiting
• Provides Mended Hearts access to meeting space
• Provides space for literature, visitor supplies, volunteer personal items
• Provides consistent contact persons (e.g. volunteer coordinator) for Mended Hearts visitors
• Provides tangible recognition of Mended Hearts contributions to their patient care program
• Provides speakers, personnel for Mended Hearts meeting or other chapter needs
• Provides other in-kind support (printing, postage, meals, transportation, etc.)
• Provides supports for chapter to send representative(s) to Mended Hearts convention.

About Mended Hearts

Mended Hearts partners with 460 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics and for over 60 years has offered services to heart patients through visiting programs, support group meetings and educational forums. Mended Hears volunteer visitors have all had heart surgery and have chosen to visit patients to offer them hope and encouragement. They show by example that by following the advice of doctors, nurses, and educators one can change his or her approach to life. Visitors know first hand the value of work in the rehabilitation lab, changes in diet and exercise, and the  proper use of medication.

The local chapter, in conjunction with Rogue Valley Medical Center, offers this gift of hope through trained heart patient volunteers visiting other patients.  They invite any heart patient or family member to let them know if they can help.

Mended Hearts may be reached by calling the Assistant Regional Director, Western Region at 541-546-4555 or nationally at 1-888-HEART99 (1-888-432-7899) or by visiting the Web site at http://mendedhearts.org/.