Optimizing Your Recovery with Cardiac Rehabilitation

Author: Lani dela Rama, RN, MSN

For heart patients or those living with chronic cardiac conditions, recovery 是一个持续的过程. Beyond the physical recovery after a procedure, there’s often a need for lifestyle adjustments, education about their condition 和 psychological support. Having the dedicated support of health care providers, loved ones 和 fellow survivors can make a tremendous difference in a patient’s mental 和 physical rehabilitation efforts.

Whether you’re recovering from heart surgery, managing a chronic condition or simply looking to strengthen your heart 和 overall health, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Washington Hospital has something to offer.

这个项目

的 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is designed to help patients repair 和 strengthen their heart health throughout their outpatient recovery. 的 程序 is led by a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, 医生s, medical directors 和 exercise physiologists who are available to patients during each step of their recovery process.

Initially, the 程序 aims to educate 和 empower patients while they prepare for their procedures. Before a procedure, a patient will meet with a pre-op team that includes a pre-op nurse; a cardiac rehabilitation therapist to review what to expect post-surgery 和 in the coming weeks; an EKG technician to run final tests; 和 the anesthesiologist who will be present during the procedure.

After the procedure, either a post-op nurse or the cardiac rehabilitation therapist will review the discharge orders 和 care. 我们还和 the families 和 loved ones of 程序 participants so that everyone is on the same page when it comes time for the patient to return home.

Generally, patients are able to participate in the second phase of the 程序 between four to six weeks after their surgery or procedure, though some may start sooner with their 医生’s approval. 在这 phase, 程序 participants will attend up to 36 guided rehabilitation sessions that focus on a variety of recovery topics including:

• Heart-health education
• Body conditioning 和 strength training
• 生活方式 和 营养咨询
• Blood pressure 和 blood sugar control
• Telemetry-monitored cardio vascular exercises

病人 have the added benefit of undergoing individual recovery education while attending these group sessions, allowing them to receive individualized care from their 医生s as well as motivation 和 ongoing support from fellow rehabilitation patients. Once they’ve completed the first 36 sessions, patients have the option to continue with the maintenance 程序 for a small fee.

如何参与

Cardiac patients will automatically be introduced to the 程序 和 its offerings during their pre-op appointments. Additionally, the 程序 is open to friends 和 family members of patient participants, 和 can also be accessed by the public with a referral from their primary care 医生. 的 Cardiac Rehabilitation 程序 at Washington Hospital also 合作伙伴 修补的心 – a support group for anyone who has had heart surgery, suffered a heart attack, or is working to manage their ongoing cardiac conditions.

Visit the Washington Hospital website to explore our cardiac rehabilitation classes or to learn more about the cardiac rehabilitation 程序.

发布日期：2020年2月