It is a reincarnation of sorts.
Programming for patients of the soon to be shuttered Cardiac Fitness Institute (CFI) will be shifted to Western University's Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA).
Officials at both facilities confirmed the news on Tuesday.
“Since LHSC (London Health Sciences Centre) announced the closure of the CFI, we have been working closely with representatives of the CFI’s Patient Advisory Committee to help find appropriate fitness options in the community. This opportunity with the CCAA represents the results of that collaborative work and we are very pleased to have established a positive option for CFI members,” said LHSC President Dr. Paul Woods in a statement.
The facility changeover comes after months of cardiac patient protests over the closure of the over 30-year-old program, which many have claimed helped to save their lives.
As part of the agreement to take in CFI patients, the CCAA will add new classes specifically targeted to cardiovascular health. Treadmills, exercise bikes, weight training equipment, and stress test units from CFI will be donated to the centre, located in the university's faculty of health sciences.
“CCAA is a natural fit for existing CFI members and we can’t wait to welcome them all,” said Clara Fitzgerald, CCAA program director.
But unlike the services that have been offered free of charge at CFI since 1981, those at CCAA will come with a fee.
"We will be offering (CFI patients) a startup membership which will be covered with the funds that will be transferred from London Health Sciences," said Fitzgerald. "Following this startup, which is really just to get their feet going, our programs are a fee for service. So there will be, at a later time, fees for their programming."
Fee details will be disclosed during nine open house dates being held at the CCAA from March 29 to May 24.
Fitzgerald was quick to point out the added benefits offered by the centre outweigh the added cost.
"We have free parking here, all of our instructors are certified fitness instructors for older people," said Fitzgerald. "In addition to annual stress test (members) will also be offered a fitness appraisal which will give them a better understanding of their functional level of ability and that their partners, spouses or others, who might be interested in joining the program can join with them."
The CFI's closure on April 27 was scheduled to coincide with the retirement of its founder, cardiologist Dr. Larry Patrick. Patients were told of the LHSC's plans to shut down the program in December. Hospital officials stated the program falls outside of its mandate as an acute care facility and it can no longer afford the $150,000 a year it chips in toward the service.
Those interested in learning more about the new cardiovascular programming at CCAA can watch for updates at www.uwo.ca/ccaa.
