Cardiac Rehabilitation
The Cardiac Wellness Program at Gwinnett Medical Center offers a combination of health education and monitored physical exercise designed to help patients recover from a heart attack or other cardiac event—and to prevent those at risk from having them to begin with. The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation include reduced risk of fatal heart attack, decreased severity of angina, a reduced need for hospitalization because of heart problems and decreased anxiety. All this means healthier outcomes and improved results.
Our charge is to replace the fear that follows a cardiac event with restored confidence using:
Exercise
- Each patient receives an individual fitness evaluation and exercise plan.
- Medically supervised sessions with continuous heart rate and blood pressure monitoring by exercise physiologists and registered nurses.
- Sessions are held three days a week. A typical program lasts six to twelve weeks.
Education about critical heart health topics, including:
- Heart disease
- Stress management
- Lifestyle changes
- Nutrition and exercise
- Complementary therapies
Program Phases
- Phase I—Our inpatient rehabilitation services begin while a patient is still in the hospital.
- Phase II—Following discharge from the hospital, patients begin the outpatient phase of cardiac rehabilitation: a six- to twelve-week exercise and education program designed to build fitness, gain knowledge and restore confidence.
- Phase III—As a continuation of Phase II—supervised exercise sessions, including heart rate and blood pressure monitoring. Phase III can be used as a bridge between the extensive monitored Phase II and an independent exercise routine.
Enrollment
To be eligible, you must have a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and a physician referral. To obtain the maximum benefit from cardiac rehabilitation, participation needs to begin shortly after discharge from the hospital or at a physician’s request.
Medicare and most insurance companies allow coverage for the program, which is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
To learn more about the Cardiac Wellness Program, find a physician or call 678-312-3692.
