July 18, 2003

JAMESON HOSPITAL to Offer Lifestyle Advantage/ Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease

New Castle, PA – The Jameson Hospital announced today it is offering a unique and innovative Program to supplement conventional treatment of heart disease, such as bypass surgery or angioplasty.  The Jameson Memorial Hospital has been selected as one of seven hospitals in western Pennsylvania to offer this Program through Lifestyle Advantage, which is a subsidiary of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The renowned Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease will be offered to medically qualified individuals in the Beaver, Butler Mercer and Lawrence counties.  The cost for this program can be covered for each candidate who is a member of Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance or a Medicare participant who has Highmark supplemental insurance along with Plan A and Plan B. The Program will be offered at the Jameson Memorial Hospital beginning July 28, 2003. 

The Jameson Hospital’s Lifestyle Advantage/Dr. Dean Ornish Program staff members work with area primary care physicians and cardiologists to identify medically qualified candidates for the Program. Group sizes will be limited in each Program session to ensure personalized attention.

The Lifestyle Advantage/Dr. Dean Ornish Program is designed to provide people suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD) with a treatment option that may reduce the need for bypass surgery or angioplasty. The Ornish Program is also for men and women with risk factors for developing heart disease, such as high serum cholesterol, high blood pressure, a strong family history of heart disease or diabetes.

The Ornish Program is the result of studies conducted over two decades by Dean Ornish, M.D., president and founder of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute. Dr. Ornish and his colleagues have demonstrated that comprehensive lifestyle improvements in nutrition, exercise, stress management and group support can improve blood flow to the heart.

The results of Dr. Ornish’s studies have been reported in the Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and other respected, peer-reviewed medical publications.

Dr. Ornish is among the best-known researchers of heart disease in the United States and is the author of the best sellers, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease and Eat More, Weigh Less. His pioneering work in arresting and even reversing heart disease has been featured in national media including, The New York

Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Dateline NBC, and the PBS science series Nova.

“The Ornish Program has been clinically demonstrated to help improve blood flow to the heart, reduce angina, and improve exercise capacity. Participants also report a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction with life,” said Gina Zambelli, Program Director for the Lifestyle Advantage/ Dr. Dean Ornish Program.

“The Program is a non-invasive way to treat heart disease, giving patients an alternative that can improve their quality of life and allow them to take a more direct, active role in maintaining their health,” said Zambelli.    “The Ornish Program is helping to change the way that heart disease is managed in this country.”

The Ornish Program targets three primary groups:

•  Men and women who are contemplating bypass surgery or angioplasty but are seeking an option that may reduce the need for these procedures;

•     Patients who have previously experienced one or more heart procedures and want to minimize the chances of repeating the process; and

•     People with significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high serum cholesterol, high blood pressure, a strong family history of heart disease or diabetes.

The objectives of the Ornish Program are:

•  Reduction of blockages in coronary arteries;

•     Improvement of blood flow to the heart;

•  Reduction in chest pain (angina);

    •  Reduction in serum cholesterol levels; and

•     Improvement in exercise capacity, sense of well being, and satisfaction with life.

            The Ornish Program is designed to address one or more key risk factors tied to the onset and development of coronary artery disease. Participants are screened and approved following consultation with family primary care physicians and cardiologists and are taught to adopt a very low-fat vegetarian diet (less than 10 percent of daily calories from fat), increase their physical activity level, handle stress more effectively, and cope with related emotional issues that lead to or result from heart disease.

The Jameson Hospital’s Lifestyle Advantage/Dr. Dean Ornish Program staff includes a registered dietitian with a diabetic specialty, chef, exercise physiologist, stress management instructor, behavioral health clinician, nurse case manager, program director, and medical director. All participants remain under the care of their physicians, who will receive regular progress reports.

“The Ornish Program requires each participant to commit to a change in lifestyle to eliminate the behaviors that contribute to heart disease,” said Zambelli.    “Those willing to make the commitment have an excellent chance of improving their health.”   The ability of the Ornish Program to improve the health of participants is well documented.

In a landmark study conducted by Dr. Ornish, 78 percent of Program participants were able to avoid bypass surgery or angioplasty. Approximately 500 people have participated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Ornish Program since 1997. That group achieved statistically significant reductions in all risk categories, including angina, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight and body fat, as well as in key perceived measurements of stress, hostility, and depression. Participants also demonstrated more than a 20 percent improvement in both exercise and oxygen capacities.

“Graduates of this Program gain a clearer understanding of the behaviors that can lead to heart disease, along with the no-nonsense approach they need to control those behaviors,” said Zambelli.  “What the clinical reports also show is the dramatic change in their attitude toward life. They are genuinely happier, less hostile, and have learned how to cope with stress. It’s truly an outstanding, and potentially life-enhancing, option for individuals facing bypass surgery or angioplasty.”

The Ornish Program also provides significant cost benefits by enabling participants to avoid invasive procedures. A cost study conducted by Highmark found that the Ornish Program saved an average of more than $17,000 per participant — a conservative estimate that did not include the cost of avoided heart attacks, medication, or cardiac rehabilitation.

“The Ornish Program is an excellent example of the Jameson Hospital’s commitment to providing innovative medical programs that improve outcomes for our patients while addressing critical cost issues,” said Zambelli. 

Individuals interested in applying for the Ornish Program, and primary care physicians and cardiologists with qualified candidates should call The Jameson Hospital’s Lifestyle Advantage/ Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease office at 724-656-4660.  Click here for more info on the Dean Ornish Program

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