Support Groups
The Jewish Hospital is dedicated to providing resources for patients
and their loved ones to find support related to cardiac care and
healthy living. Below you will find information on three active support
groups at The Jewish Hospital.
>Happy Hearts
> The Greater Cincinnati Heart Failure Support Group
> The Greater Cincinnati ICD Support Group
Happy Hearts 
When?
Every
Fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m
Where?
The Jewish Hospital (highlight and link to
directions map)
Objectives:
The Happy Hearts Club was formed in 1980
by a group of cardiac rehab patients interested in learning about the
latest treatments and trends for promoting a healthy lifestyle. Today,
the Happy Hearts Club has three purposes:
- to provide a forum for individuals with heart disease and/or related
risk factors, to learn about heart disease, new procedures for combating
the same and lowering said risk factors
- to provide financial assistance
to patients attending The Jewish Hospital cardiac rehabilitation
program in the form of scholarships to allow them to participate
in the program
- to provide funds to The Jewish Hospital cardiac rehabilitation
program for the purchase of exercise equipment and patient education
materials.
Happy Hearts club dues and money raised from the tribute fund provides
rehab programs with scholarship for those in need and also buys equipment
and miscellaneous items.
For more information, contact Cyrina Wolf, president, at 513-871-3511 or The Jewish Hospital cardiac rehab department at 513-686-6880.
The Greater Cincinnati Heart Failure Support Group
When?
Third Thursday of every month at
6:30 p.m.
Where?
The Jewish Hospital
Conference Room A/B (take 1st floor elevator to 2 and turn left)
The Greater Cincinnati Heart Failure Support Group is co-sponsored
by The Jewish Hospital and the American Heart Association. The group,
led by cardiac health care professionals, provides general information
about the condition and how it can be treated to patient’s family
and friends who want to gain support through this educational group.
The Greater Cincinnati Heart Failure Support Group meets the third
Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A/B at The
Jewish Hospital. Click here for directions.
Please contact cardiac rehab at 513-686-6880, or Michelle Kirschner
at 513-985-0741, ext. 3024, for more information.
The Greater Cincinnati ICD Support Group
A support group for ICD patients
and their families
Mission statement:
to provide support, education and the opportunity
for exchange of ideas in a caring and friendly environment for patients
and their families.
What is an ICD?
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small device implanted
like a pacemaker under the skin. Most new devices also have a pacemaker
component as well. It is attached to one or two leads, which are
placed in or on the heart muscle. The ICD detects potentially life-threatening
fast rhythms in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles)
and delivers therapy to restore the heart to a normal rhythm. The
newer devices that have the pacemaker component can deliver a therapy
called anti-tachycardia pacing. Anti-tachycardia pacing is a series
of small, rapid pacing impulses that can override the rapid rhythm.
A lot of times this works. However, if that does not work, an electrical
shock occurs to restore a normal rhythm.
ICD’s
Since their development more than 20 years ago, ICD’s have been
implanted in hundreds of thousands of patients.
Many patients have received an ICD device because they have already
experienced at least one episode of sudden cardiac death and have lived
to tell about it.
The recent MADIT II study showed that patients who have had a heart
attack and have a reduced ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped
out of the left ventricle) are more at risk for sudden cardiac death.
This means that a life threatening rhythm can happen without notice.
Patients who meet the MADIT II criteria are often advised to have an
ICD placed as a protection from sudden cardiac death.
This protection often brings along psychological concerns. Although
most patients are grateful for the protection, fear of a shock or of
the device not working properly can often be mentally troubling.
ICD’s and Support Groups
Many patients benefit from continuing education about ICD’s and
heart health living. Support groups offer the opportunity for patients
and family members to discuss issues with which they may be struggling.
Groups also enable patients to form connections with others who have
had similar experiences. Family members, too, can express their fears,
joys and frustrations. Education and discussion times help patients
to heal, both physically and emotionally.
Objectives:
- To provide education and information at each support meeting related
to ICD’s
- To provide an open forum for which the emotional psychological issues
of ICD’s can be discussed
- To provide an atmosphere that is friendly and caring without regard
to age, race, religion or gender
- To provide an adequate number of meetings that fulfill the need of
the majority of the attending population
- To serve all defibrillator patients in Greater Cincinnati regardless
of physician, cardiology group or device manufacturer.
For more information about the date, time and location of the next
meeting, contact:
Franki Wood, C.N.P., A.R.N.P.
513-861-55553
woodfranki@aol.com
Paul Zengel M.S., E.S.
513-584-7285
zengelp@healthall.com
