The treatment of cardiac and pulmonary disease can be complicated, confusing and frustrating for patients and those who care for them. To make understanding these diseases less trying, the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program at St. Joseph Hospital provides a comprehensive outpatient program that enhances patient comfort and understanding of the diseases while improving heart and lung function.
Services include medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, recommended lifestyle modifications, education and emotional support. The cardiac and pulmonary programs focus not only on improving overall physical well-being but also on improving mental and social function.
Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Outpatient cardiac rehab is a supervised, monitored exercise program that focuses on safely returning heart patients to a normal, active life after suffering a heart-related incident. The goal of the program is to reduce the risk of another cardiovascular episode. This is done by slowing and reversing the progression of heart disease by reducing risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Cardiac rehab is designed for patients who have experienced or are at risk for:
- Cardiac transplantation
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
- Coronary artery disease
- Myocardial infarction
- Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/stent procedures
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Stable angina
- Valve surgery
- Ventricular assist devices
Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Outpatient pulmonary rehab is designed to help enhance the quality of life for patients with chronic respiratory impairment by restoring their lung capacity to the highest possible level.
The goals of the program are to decrease respiratory symptoms and complications; encourage independence; improve physical conditioning, exercise tolerance and emotional well-being; and reduce hospitalizations.
Pulmonary rehab is designed for patients who have experienced or are at risk for the following diseases:
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Chronic bronchitis
- COPD (including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer
- Lung volume reduction surgery
- Persistent asthma
- Pre/post lung transplant
- Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary Referral Criteria
- FEV1 < or = to 60 percent of predicted value
- FVC < 60 percent of predicted value
- DLCO < 60 percent
- Exhibits symptoms, such as breathlessness or fatigue, that results in a significant disability.
What is Included in the Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program?
- Each patient is given a one-on-one evaluation prior to starting a program and receives ongoing medical evaluations throughout rehab.
- A unique exercise plan, based on each patient's abilities and needs, is developed.
- Each patient receives three monitored, one-hour exercise sessions per week for four to 12 weeks for cardiac patients and up to 10 weeks for pulmonary patients.
- Each session consists of a warm-up, cardiovascular exercise, possibly strength training, and a cool down.
- Exercise sessions are supervised by an exercise physiologist who monitors blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation.
- Cardiac rehab education programs teach patients how to recognize and manage heart disease symptoms to prevent additional cardiac damage. This includes blood pressure, cholesterol and weight management assistance; stress management and smoking cessation programs; and nutrition and depression counseling.
- Pulmonary rehab education classes teach patients how to recognize early warning signs and symptoms of chronic lung disease and how to identify environmental factors that affect breathing.
- Pulmonary rehab education classes also teach patients how to perform proper pulmonary hygiene, self-care and breathing exercises.
- All patients are taught about the various medications available to treat their disease.
- Assistance is offered to help patients return to normal activities of daily living, including work.
- Physicians receive a copy of the patient's evaluation, along with monthly progress reports, and a discharge summary.
- Additional updates are sent to the primary care physician when necessary.
Additional Information
Cardiopulmonary services are covered by most insurance providers, including Medicare. A physician's order with proper documentation is required for entry into the program. For additional information on cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services at St. Joseph Hospital, call (260) 425-3208.