'Almost retired’ Springfield resident gets medical conditions
under control with help from St. John’s Health Plans

Despite a heart murmur, diabetes, obesity, 40 years of smoking, a heart attack, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, Danny Barbato, 70, of Springfield, thought he was bullet-proof.

That is, until his last hospital stay at St. John’s, when cardiologist Kelvin Van Osdol, M.D., told the “almost retired” electronics industry executive that he needed to make the choice between cardiac rehabilitation and a drastic lifestyle change, or spending the rest of his life dragging an oxygen tank and feeling unwell.

“I spent 35 years in the electronics industry and now I’m dependent on the Energizer bunny,” Barbato jokes, referring to his pacemaker. “Seriously, though, I knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling as bad as I had become used to feeling. I wanted to visit my kids and grandkids, who live across the country, and I couldn’t do that with an oxygen tank.”

THE GAME PLAN

Barbato, with help from St. John’s Health Plans’ diabetes and congestive heart failure disease management programs, which he accessed through his membership in St. John’s PremierPlus, began cardiac rehab, quit smoking after 40 years and adjusted his diet – reducing it to 1,400 calories a day and limiting salt.

“My eating changed mainly in terms of quantity,” Barbato, a food and wine lover, says. “Now I weigh everything. I love to cook, so I just have to watch my portions and exercise. So far, I’ve lost 60 pounds and my blood sugars are great. My insulin requirement is down by more than half and I’m off the oxygen tank. I’ve also noticed a big, big difference in how I’m feeling.”

IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION

“At St. John’s, we believe in the importance of prevention and medical management, particularly for those patients with chronic diseases. By linking the events of care and enabling patients to care for themselves better between the events, we facilitate the relationship between the physician and the patient to help them improve their health,” explains Janet Pursley, R.N., vice president of St. John’s Medical Management Services.

MAKING GREAT STRIDES

When he began cardiac rehab at St. John’s Hammons Heart Institute, Barbato couldn’t make it around the quarter-mile track even one time.

“Now, I’m doing more than 20 minutes on the treadmill,” he says proudly. He also exercises by walking around his Springfield apartment complex, visiting neighbors along the way.
While Barbato still requires certain medications, he’s been able to eliminate some of them through his lifestyle changes.

“I hope to come off of more of them as my health continues to improve,” he says. “I never had the discipline to take charge of my health before, but now I approach it in a much different way. It’s never too late for anyone. I plan to be around to keep ‘harassing’ people for many years to come,” he adds, with a wink and a smile.

St. John’s Health Plans offers disease management programs for those with arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression and high-risk pregnancies.

ABOUT THE DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

NURSE & CLINICIAN SUPPORT: Highly skilled nurses and clinicians reach out to help educate and motivate individuals to self-manage. Individual counseling, assessment and group classes (in certain geographical areas) are also available with these programs.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION & FOLLOW-UP: Participants receive educational information specific to their condition, follow-up with a registered nurse who assists with understanding medications, diet, exercise and monitoring, 24-hour access to a registered nurse and access to classes specific to their disease or condition.