What is Cardiovascular Rehabilitation?

University Hospitals Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute’s Cardiovascular Rehabilitation begins during hospitalization and carries into an outpatient setting and involves:

• exercise
• education
• counseling
• cardiovascular risk factor modification service

The rehabilitation team works together to aid a return to an active lifestyle and consists of:

• highly skilled nurses
• exercise physiologists
• registered dietitians
• pharmacists
• cardiologists

Who may benefit from Cardiovascular Rehabilitation?

Any patient who has had any of the following:

• Heart attack
• Angina
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Angioplasty or stent
• Heart transplant

What are some of the advantages of this program?

• Get stronger, feel better and return to regular activities
• Reduce the risk of future cardiovascular illness and events
• Enhance psychological and social support
• Modify cardiovascular disease risk factors
• Return to vocational status

What occurs during Cardiovascular Rehabilitation?

Our Cardiovascular Rehabilitation program occurs in three phases, the first taking place during hospitalization.

Phase I
While recovering from a heart event or surgery, a physician, exercise physiologist, dietitian and nurse will educate the patient and family on the heart condition, dietary recommendations, proper exercise support, cardiovascular risk factors and appropriate care for the patient once he or she leaves the hospital.

Phase II
Phase II consists of EKG (electrocardiogram) monitored exercise, education and cardiovascular risk factor reduction, which is conducted in an outpatient setting. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation starts after the first few weeks following the patient’s heart event.

The goal of Phase II is to deliver rehabilitative and preventive services in a structured, monitored environment. Our cardiovascular rehabilitation team develops an individualized plan of care based on the patient’s needs and goals.

More specifically, Phase II focuses on:

• Medically Supervised Exercise Training sessions which use cardiovascular and resistance training equipment in a group setting to teach proper technique and safety. An exercise prescription is developed to meet each patient’s individual needs, limitations, interests and goals. Exercise training will help improve stamina, endurance and strength.
• Education and Counseling to help the patient understand his or her specific heart condition, along with ways to reduce the risk of future heart problems. Both group and individual educational sessions are available with various topics such as: coronary heart disease, medications, risk factor reduction, depression, stress management, nutrition, weight loss, exercise and more. In addition, the cardiovascular rehabilitation team assists patients with dietary, exercise and psychological follow-up counseling as needed.

Phase III
Phase III of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation focuses on cardiovascular risk factor modification, which is a life-long commitment. This phase has a long-term focus with the goal of sustaining lifestyle changes and preventing future heart events.

Patients have the opportunity to attend group education sessions and follow a tailored exercise prescription based on individual needs and goals. Participants must have a written release from their physician before starting the program.

What other services are available?

University Hospitals offers a Cardiovascular Support Group through Mended Hearts, a volunteer support organization in affiliation with the American Heart Association.

Mended Hearts helps inspire hope for heart disease patients and their families as they cope with their heart event. The group helps those affected by heart disease to have a positive patient-care experience and provides services through hospital visitations, support group meetings and educational forums.