BENTON — Many factors contribute to Saline Memorial Hospital operating at its optimum level. The Saline Memorial Health Foundation is one piece of the local health care puzzle that helps the hospital provide compassionate and quality care to its patients. Events such as the Beat Goes On 5K give the foundation the necessary resources to support the hospital.
This year’s race, slated for Saturday at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, marks the ninth annual event, with Everett Buick GMC as the continued premier sponsor. The event has grown from 250 participants the first year to more than 1,000 runners and walkers expected for the upcoming race, said Matt Brumley, director of the foundation.
The 5K has a tradition of advocating for and supporting the hospital’s efforts to fight heart disease in the community. Event proceeds have allowed the foundation to provide educational materials and CPR mannequins to all high schools in Saline County, Brumley noted. In addition, he said, the race funded an intravenous ultrasound in the cardiac cath lab to assist with heart and vascular procedures, as well as 12-lead EKG monitors on ambulances.
The monitors help give the most advanced pre-hospital diagnostic tools to allow paramedics the ability to identify a patient who is having a sudden cardiac event, Brumley said.
“This also allows them to send the information to the emergency department physicians and cath-lab team prior to a patient arriving at the hospital,” he said.
Rachel Vanhook, 36, of Benton is a mother of three and a recent Saline Memorial Hospital heart patient. Like many 36-year-olds, equating her chest pain to a heart issue was far from her mind. On Jan. 10, that became her reality.
“We were hoping that it was something minor and they would just brush it off. The entire ride to the ER, I thought, ‘They are going to think I’m crazy.’ But when we arrived at the ER, everyone was so professional and warm. They took me seriously and immediately tried to make me comfortable and get me stable. It wasn’t the scary episode I would have envisioned before I went in that day.”
Vanhook’s cardiac enzymes were so elevated that the medical team opted to do a cath procedure to ensure that there were no blockages, she said.
“They are treating me for a mild cardiac infarction, although my cath was all clear, and my follow-up tests showed no damage to the heart. It also could have been a spasm, but there was no way to know that for certain. To say it freaked me out would be an understatement, but I appreciate the hospital and doctors taking the more aggressive approach to rule out something more serious going on, then reassuring me that this is something that together we can monitor and do our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Vanhook is now undergoing cardiac rehabilitation with Dr. Allan Hatch at Saline Heart Group.
“That has been so helpful in building back up my confidence to work out again,” she said.
Vanhook added that she realizes there is no perfect hospital. However, “I consider us pretty darn lucky to have SMH in our community. I pass by the hospital multiple times a day — being a mom taxi — and I have a new profound appreciation for what goes on there.”
This year’s Beat Goes On 5K proceeds will fund the proposed Wellness Park, to be located at the base of the hill down from the hospital on Medical Park Drive, Brumley said.
The goal is for the park to be a place for the community to gather in an aesthetically pleasing green space to enjoy friends and family. The park will also encourage heart-healthy living by offering various programs addressing cardiac care, diabetes and other relevant topics. Ultimately, Brumley said, there will be a 1-mile walking trail around the hospital connecting to the park.
The 5K event is good for those who want to get out with their family and friends and know they are doing something that will benefit generations to come, Brumley said.
“Whether you walk, run or just sign up to support the enhancement of a healthy community, your participating is valuable,” he added.
Prizes will be awarded to various types of winners on the day of the event, and long-sleeved T-shirts will be given to all participants.
The race will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Saline Memorial Hospital, 1 Medical Park Drive. Packet pickup will begin at 7:30 that morning. The finish line is also at the hospital. Preregistration is $20 until Friday and $25 the day of the race. To register online or for more information, visit runsignup.com/race/ar/benton/thebeatgoeson5k.