WhidbeyHealth was recently chosen as one of 50 hospitals to participate in an initiative focusing on cardiovascular health.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s TAKEheart initiative aims to reward hospitals for providing good outcomes and lowering costs for cardiac rehab patients.

Dr. Zina Hajduczok, WhidbeyHealth’s medical director of the cardiac and pulmonary rehab program, will be leading the way with this initiative.

According to the press release, patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation attain a 20 percent reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, a 28 percent lower risk for hospital admission and a 25 percent lower rate of readmission.

“It is estimated that only one in five eligible patients are routinely referred by their care providers for cardiac rehab,” Hajduczok said. “It also has been estimated that if patient participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs was increased to 70 percent, it could save approximately 25,000 lives and prevent 180,000 hospital admissions a year.”

The hospital’s cardiac and pulmonary rehab program has seen several successful patients who have started home exercise routines and gained body strength.