Chapter Wins Orion Award

Mended Hearts Chapter 179/JSUMC Volunteers - nominated by Mary Henderson, RN, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Dennis Broschart, Manager, Volunteer Services.

Mended hearts, a national organization affiliated with the American Heart Association, provides support to patients and family members that are dealing with heart disease. The volunteers in the Mended Hearts are people with heart disease, their spouses, family members, medical professionals, and other interested individuals. Through their own personal experiences with heart disease, they will assist and support other heart patients and their families. Mended heart volunteers are available to visit cardiac patients during their hospital stay or by phone at home. Here at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, we are proud of our own Mended Hearts Chapter 179 for providing the personal support necessary to continue a heart patient on their path toward a healthy lifestyle once hospital rehabilitation is complete.

The chapter has been active for ten years with a current membership of 141 people. Meetings are held monthly with professional guest speakers offering heart-healthy advice. However, the most important function of Chapter 179 is the visiting program that offers support to heart patients and their families. The most recent statistic, from 2008, lists 11 accredited visitors having made 1745 visits. In 2005, the program consisted of 8 accredited visitors and made 1318 visits. They also publish a 12 page monthly news letter and it is distributed to members, patients, the fitness centers throughout the Meridian system and local Cardiology offices. They also have a website, http://heartsofjersey.org/; it offers internet access to Chapter officers, a 12 month file of the Newsletters and information about the chapter.

The Volunteer Services department and the staff of the Cardiopulmonary Rehab. department proudly nominate each vital member of Mended Hearts Chapter 179 and their Cardiology department volunteer assistants for the Orion Award. They have all made the ultimate expression of generosity. Not only have they given us their time, effort, expertise, and wisdom, they have given us a level of commitment and brilliantly impassioned team work that advances Meridian Health’s Brand Promise. We strongly believe they are one of our Best Teams and thus most worthy of our Orion Award!