Cardiac Rehabilitation
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413-794-CARE (2273)Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation That’s Close to Home
Cardiac rehabilitation, also known as cardiac rehab, is a program to improve your heart health after you’ve had a cardiovascular event (any condition that can cause damage to your heart muscle or blood vessels) or treatment for such an event. These include:
- Angioplasty (a minimally invasive procedure to widen an artery to improve blood flow) or placement of a stent (a tiny tube that goes into a blood vessel to hold it open and improve blood flow)
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart surgery, including MitraClip surgery (a minimally invasive procedure to help your heart’s mitral valve close more effectively) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery
- Heart transplant
- Peripheral artery disease, which we treat with our vascular rehab program
- Stable angina (chest pain or discomfort that usually occurs with activity or stress)
Baystate Health has had a strong cardiac rehab program in place since 1978. We were one of the first healthcare systems to offer cardiac rehab to our patients. Today, our Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program is one of the largest in New England. We are certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), which recognizes programs that meet the highest standards for cardiac rehab care.
In addition, our program’s medical director, Dr. Quinn Pack, is one of the nation’s leading experts in cardiac health. Dr. Pack is on the AACVPR’s Board of Directors and is heavily involved in research that focuses on best practices in cardiac rehab. Find a cardiac rehab provider.
Take charge of what you can today. Call 413-794-CARE to schedule your cardiac rehab appointment.
What to Expect When You Start Cardiac Rehab
You must have a prescription or an order from a referring provider to start cardiac rehab. We work with patients with heart or vascular conditions who come from within the Baystate Health system and those who come from outside our system.
Our outpatient cardiac rehab is the second phase of your recovery process. (See the frequently asked questions below for more on the phases of cardiac rehab care.) You’ll come in for a one-on-one orientation with one of our cardiac rehab team members after your discharge from the hospital. We’ll go over your welcome handout (pdf) and other important information together. From there, we’ll work with you to establish your goals for rehab and the resources available to you during your time in the program. These include:
- A personalized prescription for your cardiac rehab exercise program two to three times per week
- Appointments with our registered dietitian to improve your nutrition and dietary habits (download our Heart Healthy Nutrition Guide)
- Instruction from our team members on exercise to improve any potential risk factors for heart and vascular disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle
- Mindfulness training with specially trained nurses to help reduce your stress and improve coping skills
- One-on-one meetings with our tobacco treatment experts to reduce your tobacco use and dependence on nicotine if needed
- Regular monitoring of your blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), and exercise performance
At every phase, our doctors will monitor and oversee your cardiac rehab to ensure you’re getting the best possible care. We’ll update your referring provider of your progress and any potential concerns in case your treatment plan requires adjustment.
Our Cardiac Rehab Locations
Related Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac rehab reduces your risk of death by 47% and reduces your risk for a heart attack by 31%, as noted by Million Hearts, an initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It’s the best treatment available, even more than medications. Participating in cardiac rehab can keep you out of the hospital and living a healthy life.
You may have heard your doctor or care team discuss the three phases of cardiac rehab, either in the hospital or in your outpatient care. Those three phases are:
- Phase 1: This phase includes your inpatient care immediately after your cardiac event or surgery. Your care team makes sure you are healthy enough to go home and get around on your own.
- Phase 2: Your cardiac rehab care starts in this phase. You’ll work on your recovery and how to take care of yourself with safe exercise, proper nutrition, and stress reduction on an outpatient basis.
- Phase 3: This phase involves long-term plans for your heart and vascular wellness, including ongoing exercise and nutrition plans. You may have a long-term need for cardiac rehab care beyond the traditional 12-to-14-week period; if so, that would take place in phase 3 of your care.
Physical therapy uses exercise to improve strength, endurance, and range of motion, as well as to reduce pain and the risk of falls, among other goals. Physical therapy may play a role in cardiac rehab, but the two activities are not interchangeable.
Billing flexibility: We can work with you so you can pay your co-pays over at least 12 months in an interest-free account.
Families welcome: Your loved ones are your best support system. Your family members can participate in orientation, appointments with registered dietitians and our weekly educational topics.
Returning to work: Cardiac rehab maximizes your function and ability to do work. Most Massachusetts employees are eligible for paid family medical leave (PFML) after a hospitalization. Learn more about PFML from the commonwealth of Massachusetts, or contact your employer’s human resources department for more information.
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