Cardiac Rehab Helps Morristown-Hamblen Employee After Heart Surgery

After heart surgery and a challenging recovery, Carol Anne Chandler is back at work and feeling better than ever. Chandler credits Covenant Health’s cardiac rehabilitation program with helping her regain strength, build healthy habits, and restore her energy and hope.  

A Life-Changing Morning 

In February 2025, Chandler woke up with intense chest pain. “It was like nothing I had experienced before,” she says.  

An ambulance rushed her to the emergency room at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen, where she immediately felt reassured. “My anxiety level dropped,” says Chandler, who works at Morristown-Hamblen. “I’ve witnessed the ED staff take excellent care of heart patients time and time again.” 

Covenant Health Hospitals Collaborate for Fast Care    

Morristown-Hamblen’s cardiac catheterization team quickly determined the severity of her blockages required heart surgery, and she was transferred to Covenant Health Parkwest in Knoxville.  

Chandler’s recovery was difficult. Complications extended her stay in the critical care unit (CCU).  She struggled both physically and emotionally. But after feeling a strong conviction that God wanted her to get better, she persevered. Her Parkwest care team from nursing, radiology, physical and respiratory therapy, and environmental services helped her slowly begin to heal.  

“If it hadn’t been for the quick response from Morristown-Hamblen and the preparation for my arrival at Parkwest, I don’t know what the outcome could have been,” Chandler recalls. “I received special treatment from both hospitals—not because I was an employee, but because I was a patient.” 

Cardiac Rehabilitation Rebuilds Strength and Health 

After Chandler’s hospital stay, she began a 15-week cardiac rehabilitation program back at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen. The program included supervised exercise on an elliptical machine and stationary cycles, stair climbing, and customized nutrition guidance. She credits the program with improving her overall strength and wellness. 

“The staff kept me motivated,” she says. “They were firm but loving.” Floor-to-ceiling windows and energizing music made workouts feel uplifting. “It doesn’t feel like you’re working out. You’re just moving to the beat.” 

“We treat each patient how we would want our family treated,” says Misty Robinette, RRT, supervisor of cardiac/pulmonary rehab at Morristown-Hamblen. “We often get patients after what may be the scariest times of their lives. We’re here to encourage them and to help them regain their strength, not only physically but mentally as well. We try to provide a place they want to come to rather than somewhere they have to be.” 

Chandler has kept up the good work. Even though she has graduated from rehab, she still exercises at least 30 minutes every day. She explains that keeping up the habit has been easy for her: “I don’t want to go back to feeling so tired and drained all the time. After cardiac rehab, I feel so good!”  

Building Healthy Habits for Life  

Chandler also received nutrition guidance and learned how to make long-term heart-healthy food choices. “I gave up salt because of fluid retention,” she says.  She now counts calories and reads food labels. “I make my own salad dressing. I don’t buy boxed food like rice or pasta mixes—I know exactly what’s in my food.”  

After her long recovery, Chandler is now able to enjoy time with her family. She’s back to work at her “dream job” as a health unit coordinator in the Emergency Department at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen.  

Who Can Benefit From Cardiac Rehab? 

Cardiac rehabilitation is often recommended for individuals recovering from: 

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) within the past 12 months 

• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery 

• Stable angina (chronic chest pain from coronary artery disease) 

• Heart valve repair or replacement 

• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or stenting 

• Heart or heart-lung transplant 

• Chronic heart failure  

If you believe you could benefit from cardiac rehab, contact your physician for a referral. For more information about cardiac rehabilitation at Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen, visit our web page or call 423-492-5210.