Cardiac Rehab

Recovering from a heart attack or heart procedure requires teamwork.

It takes a patient who’s willing to make the effort. It takes the support of family and friends. It takes medical supervision from the patient’s physician. And to achieve the fullest possible recovery, it takes cardiac rehabilitation services.

OCH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Cardiac rehab is a supervised education and exercise program for those who have experienced illness associated with cardiovascular disease, heart failure, angioplasty, including chest pain, heart attack, coronary bypass surgery, stents, valve replacement and heart transplant. The goal of the program is to restore participants to an optimal level of health, so they may perform activities of daily living, return to work, improve cardiovascular conditioning and meet their personal goals.

For more information about OCH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation, contact Jordan Vance, RN, at 615-2625.

Education

The cardiac rehab department uses American Heart Association (AHA) educational materials, as the AHA is recognized world-wide as an expert on heart health.

Program participants are educated about risk factors for cardiovascular disease and necessary lifestyle modification, with special emphasis on the following subjects:

Smoking Cessation
Hypertension Management
Dietary Guidelines for a Heart Healthy Diet
Weight Reduction
Safe Activity and Exercise Guidelines
Stress Management
Anatomy and Physiology of the Circulatory System
Risk Factor Reduction

Exercise

Physician approval is required to participate in the program and monthly progress reports are sent to keep the physician informed of your progress.
Exercise program is supervised by trained health care professionals, including a registered nurse.
Heart rate is monitored by telemetry and each participant is taught how to take his own pulse.
Blood pressure is taken before, during and after each session.
Program participants use a variety of exercise equipment, including air bikes, recumbent bikes, arm ergometers, treadmills, an indoor walking track and dumbbells.

We will obtain your medical history and physician clearance.
We will assist you in meeting your goals to improve your health and quality of life.

Three Phases of Cardiac Rehab

Phase I - The Hospital Setting

The first phase begins while the patient is in the hospital for cardiac diagnostic testing or after a cardiac event, intervention or surgery. Introductory educational materials are provided, and supervised progressive activity is enacted.

Phase II - Outpatient Rehab

The second phase is a monitored exercise program conducted on an outpatient basis in the cardiac rehab area of the OCH HealthPlex. Rehab sessions are every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Your insurance company will determine the amount of visits you are pre-certified for based on your condition. Phase II is focused on continued education and supervised exercise. Each participant's blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac rhythm is monitored closely throughout each exercise session, which is based upon your personal capability and health status.

Phase III - Maintenance Program

After completing Phase II, participants continue exercising three times a week through a maintenance program with limited supervision to encourage independence. Rehab sessions meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Health care professionals monitor each participant's blood pressure before and after exercise, and obtain telemetry strips once a week. Exercise instructors are available to assist as needed. Phase III includes a $50 out-of-pocket expense.

Program Cost

Cardiac rehabilitation Phase II is reimbursed by Medicare Part B and by most insurance companies. We will contact your insurance company and complete any necessary pre-certification requirements.

JOIN THE CARDIAC REHAB PROGRAM

Contact the cardiac rehab department at 615-2625 if you're interested in joining or for more information. Your physician will then be contacted for referral and to obtain necessary medical history and records before an appointment is scheduled.