Cardiac Rehabilitation
Baxter Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program provides individualized care for patients who have had heart attacks, coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty, stable angina, or for patients who are considered prone to cardiac disease. The program relies on medically proven exercise therapy and patient education.
BRMC’s staff physicians refer their patients to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Each referring physician follows his or her patient's progress through periodic written reports prepared by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
Phase I
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program typically begins while the referred patient is hospitalized. The attending physician refers the patient to the program.
BRMC’s education department manages patients during Phase I. A registered nurse trained in cardiac care reviews information concerning cardiac disease and lifestyle changes unique to the patient in an effort to prevent future disease.
*This part of the program normally takes place while the patient is hospitalized.
Phase II
Phases II and III, generally conducted on an outpatient basis, are supervised and managed by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. During Phase II, the patient is provided with a progressive exercise conditioning program, including three supervised telemetry-monitored sessions per week for 12 weeks.
Exercise sessions include a warm-up phase, a cardiovascular exercise phase and a cool-down phase. Exercise sessions include the use of the stationary bicycle, treadmill, arm ergometer, rowing machine and shoulder wheel.
During each exercise session, the rehabilitation staff carefully monitors the patient’s tolerance for exercise. Information and discussions about heart-healthy living are available to all participants.
*This phase takes place at Baxter Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Center.
Phase III
Phase III rehabilitation involves a maintenance program for Phase II graduates and others at risk for heart disease. The patient participates in two or three exercise sessions weekly.
Exercise sessions include a warm-up phase, a cardiovascular exercise phase and a cool-down phase. Exercise modes include use of the stationary bicycle, treadmill, arm ergometer, rowing machine and shoulder wheel.
The rehabilitation staff carefully monitors the patient’s tolerance for exercise at each session. Information and discussion about heart healthy living are available upon request.
*This phase takes place at Baxter Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Center.
Patient Education
Patient education, an essential part of the rehabilitation process, is offered in Phases I, II and III of the program. Structured curriculum and educational materials regarding the cardiovascular disease process are available.
In the early stages of rehabilitation, the education is aimed at both the patient and family. Later stages of the education process will emphasize the prevention of future disease.
Educational topics include lifestyle changes, stress reduction, smoking cessation, weight control, nutrition, cardiovascular risk factor reduction and other related subjects.
Reports to Primary Physician
Information concerning the patient’s progress is documented and periodically shared with the patient’s primary physician, who supervises treatment of the patient.
Exercise Prescription
In each phase of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, the patient will receive an individual exercise prescription from his or her physician that is based on individual medical and physiological history. Exercise prescriptions are tailored to your needs to enhance the benefits of exercise.
Program Staff
The staff of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program includes an active BRMC staff physician serving as medical director and nurses (RNs and LPNs) trained in cardiac care. The consulting staff for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program includes physical therapists, dietitians and counselors on staff at BRMC.
Nurses trained in cardiac care monitor patients as they exercise and maintain patient records for physician review.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program consists of medically proven exercise therapy and patient education for rehabilitation designed to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, or who have had coronary bypass surgery or a heart attack, as well as those individuals who are considered to be prone to cardiac disease, can be referred to BRMC’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
For more information, call 870-508-1380.