Evening star., 1952-03-04
Nov, Job Help for Heart VictinsE
By Betty Miles


"An employer is safer taking. a
known cardiac and putting him in
la suitable job than employing an
unknown cardiac and having him
ljeopardize his life and the lives Of
those around him." Mrs. Nancy
lOsserman. coordinator of the new
Cardiac Work Evaluation Project
lof the Washington Heart AS
lsociation emphatically states.
| Mrs. Osserman pressed this
point in talks with many business
linen in the course of setting upl
the program which begins offici-
ally today. The project is designed
to help persons whose hearts are
married, physically speaking, find
suitable new jobs if it is impossible
for them to continue in their old
Iones.
The coordinator came to the
local heart association as its first
|occupational therapist after serv-
ling as the head of the N. Y. u
Bellevue Rehabilitation Service in
New York City. The new program
grew out of the occupational
ltherapy program.
After physical rehabilitation,
the question became, where does
a heart patient who is ready to
Igo back to work go?" Since job
Ichange frequently is a necessity,
this presents serious and dis
turbing problem.
One answer can be disastrous.
IF he doesn't get help in finding
new and suitable work, a person
who needs the money will go out
and get job that is too much
for him." Mrs. OSserman pointed
out.
One Of the first patients who
will be helped by the unit drama
tically underscored this situation,
With a family of nine children
to feed, this former truck driver
and furniture mover tried to re-
turn to his old job. and had an
|other heart attack. Mrs. Osser-
man hopes 1t may be possible to
help him find lighter delivery
work.
I'VE will try to get persons
jobs that are what you might call
variations on a theme" she said.
For example, she hopes the ex-
nurse who is coming up for evalu-
alton may be helped to find a
job in doctors Office.
There will be ten specialists on
the unit which will see it's first
interviewee today at Providence
Hospital. These specialists, who
are volunteers, include the refer
ring physician, whether private,
clinic, or Government, a commit
tee physician, a representative of
Goodwill Industries, U. S. EN-
lployment Service representative,
the heart association occupational
therapist, a clinic social worker
and a public assistance worker
when necessary. a vocational
counselor, and Mrs. Osserman as
coordinator. They hope to add a |
psychiatrist to the unit, too. Sew
eral hospitals are making a room
available for unit meetings.
Persons cannot apply directly
to the heart association for help
in work evaluation, for which
there is no charge. but can ask
their physician to refer them. Att
the unit meeting, data on the
lpatient will be reviewed, and the
Ipatient interviewed, as well as his
spouse. In New York City's Belle
Ivue Hospital, where the first pro-
Igram Of this kind was set up in
1941, it was learned that the at
ltitude of the husband or wife in
the case was an important factor.
At this meeting. the unit will
determine how much the patientI
can do, then one of the place.
lment specialists will take on the
task of helping him find a new
Job, and arranging for the re-
training that is sometimes neces-
lsary. Provisions have been made
flor more than one session with
leach person If the original place
lment does not work out success
fully.
1--WE hope to see two patients
Ievery week when the program gets
underway" Mrs. Osserman re-