Cardiac Rehab Rocks Heart of Gold Games
Thursday, April 28, 2016
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Department from Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville made its annual trek to the Heart of Gold Games in Wisconsin Dells in April. They made their health care providers proud.
The group was led by Rebecca Tank, RN and Lance Maerz, Clinical Exercise Physiologist. “We had 19 participants, and almost each person won at least one medal.” Tank said.
“The Top Overall Female went to Barb Ramsden from our group,” Maerz explained. “We also “stole the show” by winning 1st place Male, 1st place Female, 2nd place Male, 2nd place Female, and 3rd place Female in the Game of Knowledge or Cardiac Knowledge test.” This year, the Heart of Gold Competitions included: Bean Bag Toss, Ladder Ball, Basketball Free Throw, Putting, Swimming, Track Walking, Treadmill Walking, a Heart-healthy Bake Off, and the Cardiac Knowledge Test. Overall, there were seven Wisconsin hospitals competing with almost 100 participants.
In addition to helping patients gain strength after a major heart event, Tank and Maerz are Certified Cancer Exercise Trainers. They are certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. Two years ago they developed a Cancer Empowerment Program that was the only program of its kind in Wisconsin. In 2014, they received the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Innovation Award.
