Cardiac Rehab
Our Cardiac Rehab Program is nationally certified with staff trained & experienced in providing education on an array of cardiac-related topics. Individualized, repetitive tailored rehabilitative programs are the cornerstone of each patient's success. After a thorough initial evaluation, a customized multi-disciplinary treatment "team" is assigned. Working with the patient, this team then develops an individualized plan of care which recognizes all of the patient's needs & goals for the rehab process. Then, using exercise equipment & the latest techniques, the team works to enable each patient to achieve his or her maximum potential for recovery.
Is This Program Right for Me?
- Cardiac Rehab decreases the chance of another heart attack by 28 percent
- Overall cardiac death rate for 2 years is improved by 45 percent
- Chances of being re-admitted to a hospital will decrease by 52 percent within the first year after a cardiac event
- Improvement of quality of life
- Improvement of cholesterol control, blood pressure control & fatigue
If you have recently had coronary bypass surgery, heart valve surgery or repair, heart transplant, PTCA, or heart attack than this program is for you. Some insurance policies will also cover cardiac rehab for congestive heart failure.
A physician referral is required to begin the program. Staff can assist in the referral process.
About the program
The program is an exercise and education program designed to teach the cardiac patient how to exercise safely within a target heart range. This is done on a heart monitor that shows an electrical tracing of the heart on a computer. This image is monitored by staff continuously during exercise sessions. Blood pressure is also monitored to ensure a safe exercise session. The exercise days are routinely on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday. The program is designed to be 2-3 months long depending on the patient diagnosis. Physicians get monthly reports and end of program reports. Physicians are contacted for any problems or significant findings. Individual dietary counseling is done and also classes on a heart healthy diet are offered. Other classes include information on blood pressure, cholesterol, medications and resistance training to improve muscle tone and increase metabolism. The staff consist of registered nurses and exercise specialists that have advanced training in the cardiovascular fitness. All of the programs in Cardiac Rehab are nationally certified.
Cardiac Rehab: Phase I
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock's Cardiac Rehab Program is an active process involving the patient in therapy and education. Rehabilitation is designed to teach, support, and encourage patients as they recover from cardiac difficulties.
Education about a variety of cardiac related issues is a major component of rehabilitation during Phase I. Educational instruction will be offered in the following areas:
- Understanding coronary artery disease
- Signals and actions of a heart attack/angina
- Congestive heart failure
- Post-bypass discharge information
- Home exercise prescription
- Cholesterol
- Stress
- High blood pressure
- Smoking cessation
Cardiac Rehab: Phase II
Phase II of the Cardiac Rehab Program is designed as an outpatient program for people who need a monitored, physician-supervised exercise program. A majority of the cost for the Phase II program is reimbursed by Medicare and a supplemental policy generally completes the reimbursement. Participating three times a week- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday- patients benefit from the monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and heart supervised exercise setting based on rhythm during exercise. The staff is trained to help patients begin and maintain a medically safe and effective exercise regimen and equipped to deal with any emergencies which may arise.
Education is also a major part of the outpatient program. The following classes are offered:
- Managing risk factors for heart disease
- Low-fat/Low-cholesterol diets
- Benefits of exercise
- Understanding cholesterol levels
- Stress reduction
- Anatomy and procedures
- Cardiac medications
- Heart attack signals and actions
Helpful Links:
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
To sign up for Cardiac Rehab program or for more information, call the BAPTIST HEALTH Health Management Center in Little Rock at (501) 202-1765 and North Little Rock at (501) 202-3704. Appointments are scheduled Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.