Cardiac Rehabilitation

MemorialCare is proud to offer cardiac rehabilitation to help heart care patients recover quickly and to return to doing the things they love. Our cardiac rehabilitation centers will help you improve your overall physical, mental and social functions. The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to instill lifestyle changes that stabilize, slow or even reverse the progress of cardiovascular disease. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a physician-prescribed, hospital-based, EKG-monitored exercise program consisting of three phases.

Cardiac Rehabilitation May Include

• Counseling on how to manage the disease process.
• Beginning an exercise program.
• Counseling on nutrition.
• Modifying risk factors including high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes.
• Providing vocational guidance to enable patients to return to work.
• Supplying information on physical limitations.
• Lending emotional support.
• Counseling on appropriate use of prescribed medications.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Service Attributes

• Designed to provide individual support and counseling on a level that is recognized and appreciated by participants.
• Entire staff is Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certified.
• Nurses are Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified.

Getting Started with Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation patients must have a physician's referral to begin the cardiac rehabilitation program. Most insurance carriers will provide coverage for cardiac rehabilitation.

Phase I – Inpatient

Cardiac rehabilitation begins during in-hospital recovery following surgery or a cardiac event. The first phase is conducted by an exercise physiologist or registered nurse. Before each cardiac patient is discharged, questions regarding personal recovery are answered, and preparation for the second phase of cardiac rehabilitation takes place.

Phase I includes:

• Monitored hall walking program.
• Education about coronary artery disease, the need for aerobic exercise and the fundamentals of exercise. An outline of the symptoms of exercise intolerance, and a home walking program.
• Personal plan of risk-factor management and activity progression.

Phase II – Outpatient

The outpatient phase of cardiac rehabilitation begins two to six weeks after discharge from the hospital. The second phase is conducted by an RN and exercise specialist. The patient attends one-hour outpatient sessions, two to three times per week.

Phase II includes:

• Up to 36 sessions of EKG monitored exercise (Two to three sessions per week, one hour per session).
• Blood pressure and heart rates monitored.
• Exercise performed on treadmills, stationary bikes, rowing machines, stairmasters and light weight-lifting.
• Individual dietary consultation.

Phase III – Outpatient Maintenance

This optional phase of cardiac rehabilitation promotes independence within a structured exercise program. The third phase is conducted by an exercise physiologist in consultation with the program director. At the outpatient facility, cardiac patients exercise under supervision two times a week during regular facility hours. Pulse rate and blood pressure continue to be monitored.

Phase III includes:

• Two sessions per week, one hour per session.
• Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring.