A $100,000 investment from NWOHT accelerated the program’s launch. The patient-centred program is running as a pilot for the next 20 weeks, with plans to expand when additional funding is secured. To remove barriers to care, patients will access all services in this program for free.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a key component of best practice for patients living with cardiac disease. However, despite the recognition of the value rehabilitation brings to patients and the healthcare system, there is a marked gap in equitable access to publicly funded cardiac rehabilitation across the province.  

Ensuring access to rehabilitation services is critical to help people recover fully from a heart event or procedure. Through exercise, education, and counselling, cardiac rehab programs have demonstrated clearbenefits for patients, providers, and the health system, including better health outcomes, lower risks of complications, and reduced healthcare utilization.

The North Bay Cardiac Rehab program meets national best-practice guidelines and is modeled on the comprehensive approach to care delivered at UHN’s Toronto Rehab, recognized for its excellence in cardiovascular rehabilitation and whole-person care.

With sustainable funding and a streamlined referral process, the program will offer patients timely access to16 weeks of specialized rehabilitative care, leading to improved health outcomes and potential savings of over $500,000 annually for the local health system.

Key features of the cardiac rehab program include:

Quick Facts

Quotes

“As North Bay’s first cardiologist I have been pleased to help to bring excellent cardiac care closer to home. The development of this cardiac rehab program is a continuation of that mission and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in making this project a reality.” – Dr. Jari Tuomi, Adult General Cardiologist, CEO and Founder, North Bay Cardiology

“The pilot launch of North Bay Cardiac Rehabilitation Program illustrates the benefits that come from organizations working together to address gaps in local services. Together we have the power to improve access to high quality health care for people living with heart disease in the Nipissing district.” -Wendy Smith, Executive Director, Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team

“Cardiovascular rehabilitation makes a real difference in the lives of people affected by heart conditions – people live longer and live better when they have access and participate. We are delighted to be working with Dr. Tuomi, health system leaders, academic partners, and strong community organizations. UHN is proud to support this innovative effort to close geographic gaps in cardiac care and bring vital services closer to those who need them most.” – Dr. Paul Oh, Medical Director & GoodLife Fitness Chair, University Health Network

“Canadore College is pleased to be partnering with University Health Network and North Bay Cardiology on this new rehab site. This collaboration demonstrates the purpose behind the creation of The Village at Canadore College. The Village is Canadore College’s innovative health and wellness training facility. As a first-of-its-kind model in Canada, it emphasizes collaborative, interprofessional education and integrates Indigenous, Eastern, and Western approaches to health and wellness. Students enrolled in Canadore’s Human Care, Health Science and Social Services, and Sport and Recreation programs benefit from experiential learning opportunities in facilities such as North Bay Cardiac Rehab while addressing critical healthcare needs within our communities.” – George Burton President and CEO, Canadore College

“Nipissing University is proud to be a partner in the new North Bay Cardiac Rehab program. The new program will not only enhance the health and well-being of our community, but will open up unparalleled opportunities for our students and faculty members to engage in collaborative research and hands-on experiential learning. From kinesiology to nursing, this clinic will enable students to apply their knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute meaningfully to real-world patient care.” – Dr. Kevin Wamsley President and Vice-Chancellor, Nipissing University

“We are proud to support patients from the North Bay Cardiac Rehab program. We know that recovery doesn’t end when someone leaves the hospital. As part of this partnership, the YMCA will provide patients with complimentary memberships to ensure they continue along their recovery journey. The YMCA Pathway to Wellness Membership will be available upon completion of the cardiac rehab program. We’ve seen how transformative it can be to regain personal strength and confidence in a supportive, community environment like the YMCA. We’re honoured to be a part of this innovative program working alongside partners who believe in igniting potential.” –Lorrie Turnbull President and CEO, YMCA of Northeastern Ontario

“Canadian Shield is honoured to support North Bay’s first funded cardiac rehab program by providing no-cost mental health and social work services to participants. This collaboration highlights the strength of collective leadership and innovation in Northern Ontario, and we’re proud to be part of a program rooted in equity, dignity, and community empowerment.” -Robin Cheslock Clinical Director, Integrated Care Services, Canadian Shield Health Care Services

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SCPS Principal Jill Cooper has been working with Dr. Brenda Bruner and Dr. Barbi Law, professors at Nipissing University, whose areas of specialization are physical activity, psychological skills, health promotion, and community-based participatory research. Theirresearch interests are primarily related to physical activity and sport participation.

The Move More, Sit Less study gathers information about student activity levels throughout the entire day, not just during school. The goal of the project is to provide schools with a snapshot of students’ movement behaviours so the school community can identify opportunities and work with the research team to support healthy active living. Cooper stresses that the changes are “over and above our daily physical activity time, which is completed as a morning routine with the entire school population walking/jogging/running the perimeter of the playground for a period of 15 minutes, as per Ministry of Education mandates.”

Several initiatives have been adopted at SCPS as a result of this research to encourage students to move more in school. For example, wipe books and dry erase chart paper allow students to stand and solve problems using non-permanent vertical spaces.

Cooper says staff at SCPS were keen to help, as the research was about their students. There has been minimal disruption through the school day, as the body breaks are taking place in a natural point in the lesson.

In the fall of 2023, Bruner gave a presentation to educators, parent council and student parliament. She explained that through the research, she wanted to give back. Bruner felt that when people read studies, the data is collected in contexts that are different; she wanted to do research to add to research literature “by contributing to the context we’re in.” In other words, she wanted rural and northern data included in research literature. For example, she says rural students’ time spent sitting is increased because of the time they spend every day on school buses.

The purpose of Bruner and Law’s research is to improve children’s physical activity towards 24-hour movement guidelines, a shift away from physical activity just at school. “The whole day is important,” Bruner says. The guidelines for healthy children and youth aged 5-17 recommends at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, several hours of a variety of structured and unstructured light physical activities, nine to 11 hours of sleep per night for children aged 5-13 and eight to 10 hours of sleep per night for those aged14-17, and no more than two hours of recreational screen time per day.

The research conducted at SCPS showed that students’ habits were good in some areas, but many had poor sleep or spent too much time sitting. The activity data was grouped by division (primary, junior, intermediate), which showed that older students spent less time in movement. Bruner and Cooper, along with the SCPS educator team, came up with ideas to encourage movement throughout the school day, which may have the added benefit of helping students to refocus on lessons.

Cooper says after the initial round of data collection, the staff started movement and body breaks. Staff have access to resources to learn to incorporate movement into their day. They noticed a significant change in the children’s ability to focus, so body breaks have been integrated into crucial parts of the day, so children can maintain attention and engage cognitive processes more efficiently.

The study is also helping students to improve their sleep by teaching them to be more mindful. The majority of students had some sort of screen in their rooms, and most students are hearing notifications through the night. Students are working at increasing self-regulation, when engaging in screen time.

The study will continue to develop initiatives that address the findings of the data and tackle them as a school; the SCPS parent advisory council encouraged parents to visit well-being information stations throughout their welcome back to school event in September of 2023, including sharing the valuable information collected and recommendations made by Dr. Bruner and Dr. Law.

SCPS student parliament has supported this endeavour by using the data shared to plan and implement a “sleep week” initiative. Students who track their sleep goals over the week of June 17-21, 2024 are invited to a PJ and movie celebration on June 21, with the hopes students will value the importance of getting nine to 11 hours of sleep daily.

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