The Cardiac Rehab department offers a multi-level individualized program
designed to help cardiac patients reach their highest level of health.
Our program has received state and national accreditation from the
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
By following your cardiac rehabilitation program, patients can expect to
see improvements in their health. This can include better weight management,
lower stress levels, improve blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure
and cholesterol, and better strength and stamina. Many patients also report
a boost in their emotional health, too, helping both their bodies and minds.
What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac Rehabilitation is a supervised exercise and education program to
promote the recovery of cardiac patients. The program includes information
for you and your family; supervised exercise while in the hospital; and
ultimately, supervised exercise as an outpatient. Each program is based
on the personal abilities and needs of the individual patient. Different
types of equipment may be used such as treadmills, stationary bicycles
and NuStep.
Cardiac Rehab focuses on:
Exercise in a physician-directed program with supervision by a registered nurse
Monitoring the cardiac patient’s heart rhythm during exercise
Assisting the patient in making lifestyle changes
Education for the patient and patient’s family to identify the risk
factors of coronary heart disease which include:
Lack of exercise
High blood pressure
Improper Diet
Elevated blood cholesterol
Smoking
Coping with stress ineffectively
Am I a Candidate for Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is most often recommended to patients who have had:
Bypass surgery
Valve repair or replacement surgery
Stable angina
Heart attack
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Angioplasty
Heart transplant
Congestive heart failure
Coronary stent placement
Chronic heart failure
What to Expect at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac
Rehabilitation Program
We offer three successive programs for patients recovering from a cardiac
event or procedure:
Phase I: The first phase is provided to patients who are admitted to the hospital
for some cardiac events. An inpatient program designed to teach the cardiac
patient and his or her family about heart disease and the recovery process,
and to start the patient on a monitored and supervised exercise program.
Phase II: An outpatient cardiac program conducted a few times per week for up to
12 weeks, designed to increase cardiovascular fitness. These exercise
sessions are supervised and monitored by health professionals. In addition,
educational classes are provided. Patients are instructed in risk factor
awareness to help prevent further cardiovascular disease and to promote
lifestyle changes.
Phase III: This program features a more independent approach to physical fitness for
those with cardiac and pulmonary conditions. It involves supervised exercise
times to improve strength, endurance, and wellness. An outpatient maintenance
program designed to help participants improve or maintain cardiovascular
fitness and good health. In addition, this phase is designed for anyone
who has any risk factors for heart disease and wants a safe, effective,
individualized exercise program. The program’s purpose is to help
clients achieve and maintain their cardiac fitness levels to live healthy lives.
The purpose of the program is to help participants strengthen their hearts,
learn about heart-healthy living by:
Establishing a personalized exercise program
Learning how to manage their conditions and prevent other occurrences
Adjusting to the emotions that accompany heart disease
Getting support services, if needed
Are There Any Risks Associated with Cardiac Rehabilitation?
You will be under constant observation of trained health care professionals
throughout your program, but you should be aware that there are certain
changes that could occur during an exercise session. Specific risks include
abnormal blood sugar, blood pressure, fainting, abnormal heartbeat, and
rare instances of heart attack or sudden death. Emergency equipment and
trained personnel are available should any unusual situation arise. To
reduce these risks, you should follow your program as prescribed and know
your training heart rate at all times (we will teach you how to monitor
this). Should you experience chest pain or pressure, inform our staff
immediately.
Physician Referrals
A physician’s referral is required for all Southeast Iowa Regional
Medical Center cardiac rehabilitation programs. The referring physician
will be responsible for providing your medical care; we will keep them
informed of you treatment and progress reports on a monthly basis.
Your physician must provide us with the following information prior to
acceptance into the program:
Completed referral form
Completed tracing of recent EKGs
Copies of all relevant data, including history and physical, medication
list and lab results.
CARDIAC/PULMONARY SUPPORT GROUP
The Cardiac/Pulmonary Support group is designed to encourage persons with
concerns about heart and lung disease in their goals for a healthy lifestyle.
The group meets every other month. Call
319-385-6504 for more information.
