Heart First Grand Opening

Inland Hospital has opened a new health and wellness center that focuses on the heart

The Hospital held a Grand Opening of "Heart First" on Thursday, June 11. Heart First offers community preventive cardiology through the providers at Heart First Cardiology Associates (formerly Waterville Cardiology Associates), a full range of diagnostic services at Heart First Diagnostics and complete rehabilitation services at the Marden Cardiac Rehab Center - all under one roof. Heart First is located at 244 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville.

Heart First also provides seamless access to The Heart Center at Eastern Maine Medical Center, should patients need more specialized cardiac care.

The Marden Cardiac Rehab Center was established thanks to a generous donation from Marden’s Surplus & Salvage, made in memory of Harold “Mickey” Marden, who passed away in 2002. As part of the Heart First Grand Opening, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the new center and thank the Marden family for their gift and for their gracious permission to name the rehab center after Harold “Mickey” Marden.

Inland President and CEO noted, “Inland Hospital exists to serve Waterville and in these challenging times, a connection with a man who lived the American dream and is an icon in the Waterville area sends a powerful message about our long term commitment to the community that is our home.”

Harold “Mickey” Marden’s widow, Catherine and their children - Harold, David, Martha, and John - were the special guests of honor at the ribbon cutting. The family is seen in the accompanying picture from the event; along with John Dalton, Inland President/CEO, David Glenn-Lewin, Inland Board Chair, and Hope Pendexter, RN and Sandy Myers, PT, Co-Directors of the new rehab center.

Harold “Ham” Marden told the crowd, “We are glad to be able to make the donation for the good of the community that our Dad cared about so much. We’re proud that it carries his name forward.”

Paul LePage, Mayor of Waterville and General Manager of Marden’s Surplus and Salvage remarked that he “was happy for Waterville and residents because the new Heart First center shows that Inland will be here for good.”

The Marden Cardiac Rehab Center offers an 8–12 week professionally supervised program with registered nurses, dietitians, exercise physiologists, pharmacists, and physicians. Patients receive individualized exercise programs and nutrition counseling to help them enjoy an enhanced level of health and well-being. Heart First Cardiologist Kevin White, MD encourages his patients to participate in the program. “It’s proven that patients who complete cardiac rehab have fewer heart attacks, less angina, and live longer.”

For more information about Heart First, call 861-8030 or visit www.inlandhospital.org/heartfirst.

[See the story in the Morning Sentinel at: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/6468929.html]