ST. LOUIS - Tom Johnson’s smile catches a lot of people’s attention. But before he underwent quintuple bypass surgery in May 2025, Johnson didn’t have much to smile about. Blocked arteries were causing him chest pain. Surgery and a new focus on fitness fueled by Mercy’s Cardiopulmonary Rebab team gave him a new outlook when it came to his health.
“What brought me here was the heart procedure, and what keeps me here is the people,” Johnson said.
Johnson was hesitant to participate in extended cardiac rehab, thinking he could do the exercises on his own. But after giving it a try, meeting his therapy team including Addison Burns, he was hooked.
“I haven’t worked out regularly since high school, much less three times a week like I have now – and for 18 straight months,” Johnson said.
Less than 30% of patients take advantage of cardiac rehab nationwide, so Johnson’s initial hesitancy is common. Cardiac rehab is a monitored exercise program where patients come after a cardiac event or heart-related hospitalization. Patients exercise with a heart monitor and supervision to make sure they are exercising safely to strengthen the heart muscle.
There are three phases of cardiac rehab. Phase I begins in the hospital with education, and phase II is the supervised program with heart monitor. Johnson is now in phase III, an independent exercise program for maintenance to help develop lifelong health habits.
“Phase III participants use our facility as a typical gym, exercise on their own and gain confidence,” said Burns, Mercy cardiac rehab supervisor. “It’s important to maintain the exercise routine, and our program provides patients with a familiar set up while still having the valuable resource of our team of exercise physiologists and nurses.”
That is exactly why Johnson chose to stay with Mercy for the phase III cardiac rehab, when he could have chosen a gym closer to home.
“The team is so knowledgeable. They are available for any questions I may have, offering brief educational classes on different topics and providing feedback when they notice something may not be quite right.”
In addition to the phase III cardiac rehab at the hospital, Mercy St. Louis is launching two new options – a community-based program in O’Fallon, Missouri, and Mercy Cardiac Rehab at Home. Both new programs were created to meet the growing needs for access to cardiovascular recovery services beyond the hospital, removing barriers while preserving the quality and results patients expect.
For Mercy Cardiac Rehab at Home, eligible patients will receive a monitoring device, baseline assessment, exercise prescription, treatment plan and ongoing evaluation. The team provides real-time oversight and can respond with rapid escalation in case of an emergency.
“Many of our patients are too far away from our gym for easy access,” said Mary Ellen McDonough, nurse manager of Mercy Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. “With these two new programs, we hope to increase participation and reduce mortality after an acute cardiac event.”
With improvements in his endurance and strength, Johnson’s smile is now a staple in the cardiopulmonary rehab gym. He is feeling so well, Johnson plans to share that smile with more patients and caregivers by serving as a Mercy volunteer.
To learn more about Mercy’s program, click here.
