UM BWMC Celebrates 40th Anniversary Of Caring For Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Patients

During the 40th anniversary celebration of the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center’s (UM BWMC) cardiopulmonary program in May, Severna Park resident Claudia Cavey used a poignant quote from baseball legend Jackie Robinson: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

Cavey, a registered nurse with the cardiopulmonary program, was the master of ceremonies for the celebration, held at the medical center’s Courtney Conference Center.

She was one of the original nurses when a team of 10 physicians opened the Arundel Heart Center in 1985. In 1989, North Arundel Hospital (now UM BWMC) acquired the facility and assisted in the program’s growth to offer area residents who had experienced a variety of heart and lung ailments a structured, individualized plan to enable patients to confidently return to everyday activities.

Cavey became emotional as she ended her presentation and remembered the thousands of lives she positively impacted during those 40 years of helping patients.

“Before we had the program, we didn’t have a medically supervised program to send our cardiac patients to,” said June Tabler, former head nurse of North Arundel Hospital’s coronary care unit. “This was a great addition for our cardiac care program.”

The program has treated thousands of area residents who enter the extensive multi-month blueprint to recover with the help of a multidisciplinary care plan. The program treats a myriad of cardiopulmonary conditions such as heart attacks, heart valve repairs and replacements, pulmonary hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Former North Arundel Hospital Chief of Emergency Medicine and Severna Park resident Dr. Richard Fields had a valve replacement procedure and was one of the more than 150 former patients who attended the ceremony.

“The rehabilitation process was great,” Fields said. “I came for 24 sessions and graduated from the program. I recommend all cardiopulmonary patients to utilize a multifaceted program using doctors, nurses and other health care professionals for their recovery.”

The physical location of the cardiopulmonary program has changed over the years, but the program’s primary goal has remained the same: Restoring patients’ confidence in returning to everyday activities in a compassionate setting that promotes long-term wellness.

Another former cardiopulmonary patient, Kristen Slavy, told the audience how she “coded” twice from two cardiac arrests. Through life-saving interventions and a lengthy rehabilitation process, she is back to living a normal life.

“It was July 20 of last year; I coded twice, once in the emergency room and once in the cardiac catheterization lab,” Slavy said. “Then the process of going through ICU (intensive care unit) and the numerous step-down units, I entered the cardiac rehab center on August 12, and 16 weeks later, I finished my rehabilitation. I’m extremely grateful for everyone’s care and guidance.”

The program’s medical director, Dr. Asghar Fakhri, shared with event attendees that the “heart and soul of the program is the staff, and their compassion and motivation is a critical part of getting the patients back to a healthy life.”