CLEARWATER, Fla. (September 12, 2002)---Morton Plant Mease's Cardiac Rehabilitation program has recently received re-certification through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). AACVPR certification recognizes programs rigorously reviewed by a national board and found to meet essential requirements for standards of care. Reviews for certification are conducted once every three years.

"This distinction is a great honor for our cardiac rehabilitation programs," said Ann Murphy-Hough, R.N., manager of cardiac rehabilitation, Morton Plant Mease. "National certification assures our patients they will participate in the best cardiac rehabilitation program available."

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to limit the physiological and psychological effects of cardiac illness; reduce the risk of sudden death or relapse; control cardiac symptoms; stabilize and/or improve the patient's condition and enhance the patient's quality of life.

The Morton Plant Mease cardiac rehabilitation program has three locations-Bardmoor Outpatient and Surgery Center, Morton Plant Hospital and Mease Countryside Hospital. The program is the largest in the Tampa Bay area. It was among the first group of programs to be awarded the national AACVPR program certification three years ago, and is now among the first group to be nationally re-certified. For more information on the program, call (727) 461-8295.

Established in 1994, Morton Plant Mease Health Care is dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care.

Contact: Meaghan Forbes, Public Relations

(727) 462-7416 - Phone

(727) 469-2923 - Pager