Cardiac Rehabilitation is a multi-phase program designed to help people with heart disease understand the need for lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, regular aerobic exercise and eating right, among others.
For more than 25 years, Southwest General has provided cardiac rehabilitation to patients in our community. Ours has long been a successful collaboration between physical medicine and nursing. We even were the first to offer evening hours, with the working person in mind.
Cardiac Rehab is divided into three sections:
Phase 1
This phase involves the inpatient who has had bypass surgery, valve surgery, heart attack, stable angina and angioplasty/stenting. A multi-disciplinary team addresses the patient’s needs, including education and exercise before their discharge home.
Phase 2
In this phase, outpatients are continuously monitored during one-hour exercise classes, three days per week. Blood pressure is checked before and after exercise, which consists of 30 minutes of aerobic activity on various pieces of equipment.
This program is offered at Southwest General's main campus, from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and at the Strongsville Medical Center, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is administered by an ACLS-certified registered nurse and an exercise therapist.
This phase is where the most dramatic improvement is seen--usually over a 12-week period. Exercise tolerance is greatly improved, as is reflected in the “ejection fraction” when patients are re-tested by their physicians. Emphasis also is placed on education as the final ten minutes of class are devoted to interactive teaching. Additionally, a dietitian meets with patients twice monthly; a pharmacist meets once monthly; and a social worker addresses stress issues once monthly.
At LifeWorks, more education is offered every Monday, at 7 p.m., and features a wide variety of heart-related topics and speakers, including physicians.
Phase 3
Once the patient completes Phase 2, this last phase is an option for those who wish to continue to utilize a hospital-based exercise program. Offered at both LifeWorks and the Strongsville Medical Center, aerobic exercise is continued under medical supervision, with blood pressure checks, twice daily. Periodic heart monitoring is during this phase, rather than continuous monitoring, as in Phase 2.
One of the greatest benefits to develop during this phase is the camaraderie among patients in these exercise classes. Many friendships are fostered and have remained intact for years. Periodic social events by the cardiac team also foster a sense of family and fun among the staff and participants.
For more information about Southwest General’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, call 440-816-5772.