Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation enables individuals with heart disease, and those recuperating from cardiac surgery, to efficiently and effectively resume an active, healthy lifestyle. The program is tailored to optimize the heart health of its participants, while increasing endurance and strength. All services are provided by a team of cardiac rehabilitation specialists, led by a board certified cardiologist, using the most advanced equipment. Following a physician’s referral, each participant receives a thorough evaluation, including a cardiac risk factor assessment and a cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance test. Based on these results, a program is customized to meet a patient’s individual needs and goals, including returning to work or resuming activities of daily living. For all participants, a primary objective of the program is to prevent future cardiac complications or conditions.
The program is open to all individuals who need medically managed outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Some patients enter the program directly from Helen Hayes Hospital’s intensive inpatient cardiac rehabilitation service. Others enroll after being discharged from an acute care hospital, or from home, with a physician’s referral. Candidates for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation include individuals recovering from:
heart attack
angina
heart failure
heart transplant
angioplasty or stents
medically managed coronary artery disease
open heart surgery, including bypass & valve replacement
The Core Program
Exercise and education, provided by a team of cardiologists, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, nutritionists and nurses, form the base of the program. Monitored and supervised exercise improves cardiovascular function and modifies cardiac risk factors. A wide variety of exercise options are available, including treadmills, recumbent bicycles, and weight training equipment. Education sessions focus on stress reduction, nutrition, exercise guidelines and blood pressure and cholesterol control. Upon completing the program, patients are reevaluated to measure their functional gains and to provide an exercise prescription for continued lifelong exercise.
Follow-Up
After discharge, patients are encouraged to make exercise a lifelong commitment, exercising either at home, in a community setting, or in the Helen Hayes or Nyack Hospital Wellness Centers. The Centers offer a supervised and friendly environment in which to continue the progress made in the rehabilitation program.
