Cardiac Rehabilitation

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a program of exercise, behavior change and education designed to improve the physical and emotional condition of individuals with a heart problem.  Candidates for cardiac rehabilitation include all individuals who have had a heart problem including angina, heart attack, bypass and valve surgery, angioplasty, and heart failure. Cardiac rehabilitation is prescribed to control symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, and improve the overall quality of life for patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation is overseen by a specialized team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, an exercise physiologist, and other healthcare professionals. While cardiac rehabilitation begins in the hospital (known as Phase 1), it continues on an outpatient basis after the patient is discharged over a period of 3 to 6 months (Phase 2).  Long-term exercise maintenance programs are also available (Phase 3).

The risks of a heart attack during cardiac rehabilitation are small, and are greatly reduced by careful, continuous monitoring of the patient.  In fact, the risk of NOT doing cardiac rehabilitation is a much greater risk than the risk of doing cardiac rehabilitation.  While the outcome of the cardiac rehabilitation program depends on a number of factors, almost all patients who complete the program will increase their level of physical activity and be able to return to the workforce and/or other daily activities.

Along with our cardiac rehabilitation program, we also offer these other special "risk reduction programs":

•     Healthy Heart Weight Loss Program
•     Healthy Heart for Diabetes
•     Healthy Heart for Seniors
•     Healthy Heart for Peripheral Artery Disease (leg cramps with walking)
•     Healthy Heart for Chronic Heart Failure

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Certification
The cardiac rehabilitation program at Fletcher Allen is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).  AACVPR is the premier national organization with a mission to reduce morbidity, mortality, and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research, and aggressive disease management.  Our certification assures that you are enrolled in a program that meets or exceeds national care standards.  Furthermore, our cardiac rehabilitation program at Fletcher Allen is nationally and internationally recognized for its quality and innovation. 

Getting Started at Cardiac Rehabilitation:
We invite you to come and visit us at our cardiac rehab facility in South Burlington.  If you were recently in the hospital, you are welcome to come to a group visit we have every Friday at 10:30 A.M.  At this time, our nurse clinician will explain what cardiac rehab is all about.  If you prefer, a one-on-one visit can be arranged for a different day or time.