Cardiac Rehabilitation

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

  • An individualized and personalized treatment program, including evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and other health related areas.
  • A physician-supervised, multi-disciplinary team including Registered Nurses, Masters Prepared Exercise Physiologists, Registered Dieticians, Pharmacists, Chaplain Services, and Resource Case Managers.
  • An important part of the treatment of your specific heart problem. If you have one of the following diagnoses you may be eligible to participate:
    • Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction)
    • Coronary artery angioplasty and/or stents
    • Open heart surgery/Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
    • Valve repair or replacement surgery
    • Heart failure
    • Heart transplantation
    • Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD)
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
    • Other cardiac medical conditions

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

  • Patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation after having heart interventions such as angioplasty, stents and clot-busting drugs have a 45% lower mortality rate.
  • 20-30% reduction in all-cause mortality rates.
  • Decreases mortality at up to 5 years post participation.
  • Enhanced ability to perform activities of daily living.
  • Improved health-related quality of life.
  • Reduced hospitalizations and use of medical resources.
  • Live longer and lesson your chances for another heart attack.
  • Control heart disease symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
  • Stop or reverse damage to the blood vessels in your heart.
  • Lessen the physical and emotional effects of heart disease.
  • Improve your stamina and strength, getting you back to your usual activities, including work, hobbies, and regular exercise.
  • Improve your confidence and well-being.
  • Increase you and your family’s understanding about your condition and treatment.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Offers:

  • Assessment of your personal risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease.
  • Education and support to make healthy lifestyle changes such as:
    • Maintaining a healthy weight
    • Heart healthy eating
    • Smoking cessation
  • Beginning and maintaining a personalized exercise plan that works for you.
  • Monitoring and better control of:
    • Blood pressure
    • Lipids/cholesterol
    • Diabetes
    • Heart failure
  • Psychological/stress assessment and counseling.
  • Opportunity to meet and share stories with other patients like you.
  • Improved communication with your doctor and other healthcare providers about your progress following your cardiac event.

Phase I – Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Our Phase I team are experts on cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment and recovery. We provide individualized education for patients and their family members related to heart and vascular disease and its risk factors.

Education includes risk factor management regarding: high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, smoking cessation, stress, and weight management. We also provide education on surgical recovery, healthy eating, and safe home exercise.

The Phase I team also helps patients enroll in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation (Phase II) programs near their home.

Outpatient (Phase II) Cardiac Rehabilitation

The Outpatient program begins after you are discharged from the hospital, typically within one to two weeks. Once your doctor has provided a referral, the Cardiac Rehab team can help you get started in our program. Our gym is located on the second floor of Bellin Hospital, next to the Cardiology Associates office. 

Patients are scheduled into classes either two or three days per week. We do our best to work with you to find a program time that fits your busy schedule. You may need two weeks, two months, or even longer to learn how to exercise at a safe level, manage your heart condition, and develop a healthier lifestyle. On average, most programs last up to 18 weeks.

During Outpatient (Phase II) Cardiac Rehabilitation you will:

  • Have your heart rhythm, heart rate, blood sugar (if needed), and blood pressure monitored.
  • Exercise in a safe, monitored environment with trained staff.  We place emphasis on personalized aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and flexibility.
  • Have weekly education classes for you and your family taught by Registered Dieticians, Pharmacists, and Cardiac Rehab staff.
  • Set personal goals and develop an individual treatment plan with strategies to help you make lifestyle changes. This program is tailored to your personal needs, abilities and interests.
  • Have your progress tracked and reported to your primary physician or Cardiologist.
  • Be given home exercise guidelines.
  • Have access to on-site medical care. If you would have an emergency, symptom, or concern, the rehabilitation staff can assess the situation and immediately contact your health care team (Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, etc).

Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program is Certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), so you can feel confident that you’re getting the highest level of care.

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Does insurance cover Cardiac Rehabilitation?

The majority of insurance companies will cover all, or a portion, of Cardiac Rehab services. The Cardiac rehab staff will let you know what your insurance coverage is, prior to starting with our program, but we do encourage you to call your insurance company as well for verification. Please contact us if you have questions on what to talk to your insurance company about. 

We look forward to working with you and your family! Please call us with any questions about how to get started in Cardiac Rehab. Our number is (920) 433-3626.