b'CONCORD HOSPIC HL A N U F L O | N RVCICE I O 39CTOANL AONRNDU AO SRPEIPTOARLTN| AAL RFEIPIOARTTI NS A SDE A R EEDXIPTAANTSOI NNSA COORDINATED APPROACH TO CAREGeorge SimonWhen people ask George Simon of Bow what hes done to lose 90 pounds and improve his health, he has a simple answer: he had a heart attack.Its kind of morbid, but a heart attack is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. It was the kick in the pants I needed, George said.Georges heart attack in September 2019, at age 37, brought him to Concord Hospital, where skilled Emergency Department and cardiovascular care teams saved his life, then provided support that changed his lifestyle.He benefitted from the Hospitals coordinated approach to make it easier for cardiovascular patients to navigate the system, from their first symptoms, to diagnosis, testing, treatment, discharge and recovery.George spent three days in the Hospital after Dr. Michael Ferguson of Concord Hospital Cardiology opened his blocked artery. It was the start of a new routine of hard work for the husband and father of two young children.The biggest part of my journey has been not in the Hospital, he said. I was there for three days and for follow-up appointments after that, but in those three days, I learned a lot.Because of a family history of heart issues, George had been receiving cardiac care services since he was 17 through another healthcare organization. A year before he was stricken, he was assured that he didnt have cardiac risk factors and had little or no chance of having a heart attack. After his attack, new testing and consultation with Dr. Michael Newton, of Concord Hospital Cardiology, revealed that although Georges cholesterol level was not a risk for most people, it was a risk for him because his system was converting any amount of cholesterol to artery-clogging plaque. His weight added to his risk factors.He said I have to look at moving forward, said George, who has since transferred his cardiac care to Dr. Newton.Through the Hospitals cardiac rehabilitation program, George made a commitment to change his lifestyle and diet. He went to classes three times a week for 12 weeks, carefully watched and documented what he ate and began exercising regularlywith non-judgmental support for everything from nutritional education to help buying home exercise equipment.I have nothing but great things to say about the program, George said. They are not going to do everything for youno one is making me get on that treadmill every single night for an hourbut they are very good at explaining why you should be doing things. George works for a company called Medicus based in Windham that helps place healthcare providers at hospitals. He said his experience as a patient helped him appreciate how important it is for hospitals to be staffed efficiently with providers who save lives and keep people healthy.A year after his heart attack, George said people should know they are the best advocates for their own health, but that Concord Hospital is there to help, with essential care and to patiently answer questions about how to stay healthy. I can reach out to anybody at any time and I get an answer very quickly, George said.'