Cardiac rehabilitation is the process by which a person is restored to a productive, active, and satisfactory life as soon as possible after heart disease is identified.
A participant in the program learns to adjust to new lifestyles, develop improved fitness, reduce or eliminate risk factors that contribute to heart disease, and return to a productive life.
Admission to the cardiac rehab program can only occur through physician referral. Participation is for those individuals with coronary problems that consist of heart attack, stable angina, coronary bypass, aortic valve replacement, pacemaker, stents, angioplasty PTCA, and heart failure.
Through participation in the program the patients will:
- Better understand their heart condition
- Modify habits that put them at risk
- Recondition their heart muscle and increase the efficiency of their lungs through physical exercise
- Establish a safe and effective lifetime exercise program
- Enhance the quality of their life
Participants in the Cardiac Rehab Program are directly instructed and supervised by a registered nurse and fitness professional specially trained in cardiac care.
The program
The Cardiac Rehab Program is a three-phase sequence of care from hospital admission through recovery. McPherson Hospital provides Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Phase 1 occurs while a person is hospitalized for heart disease and continues until dismissal from the hospital.
Phase 2 is a monitored, outpatient program that begins after hospital discharge.
The outpatient attends sessions three times a week. During the exercise portion of the session participants are continuously monitored with a telemetry unit and their blood pressure is checked periodically. The exercise portion includes a warm-up and stretching phase, an aerobic phase with the use of an airdyne bicycle, recumbent bicycle and or treadmill, light weight lifting and a cool-down and stretching phase.
Extra time is provided for nutrition education. Good nutrition aids in the health and recovery of the cardiac patient.
The Phase 2 program is generally six weeks, but the type and extent of the coronary disease will determine the actual length of time spent in the program.
Phase 3 is a maintenance program. The former cardiac participant may enter the regular fitness program at the Hess Fitness Center with the approval of their physician.
The person exercises in a supervised atmosphere, but is not monitored on the telemetry unit. This maintenance program allows the participant to work independently under given guidelines and to maintain fitness for life.
A Periferal Artery Disease (PAD) program is available. Contact your physician for referral.
What patients have to say...
"It removed the fears and uncertainty of my abilities after my heart attack and allowed me to return to work more confident."
"I liked the friendliness, professionalism and encouragement from the rehab people."
"I feel stronger now and enjoyed working out with others."