Cardiac Rehabilitation Program celebrates 25th anniversary

In celebration of the Emerson Hospital cardiac rehabilitation program’s 25th anniversary and in honor of cardiac rehabilitation week, from Feb. 13 to 17, the Emerson Hospital cardiac rehabilitation team will offer blood pressure screenings and risk factor assessments each day at the hospital. The screenings will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the lobby outside of the coffee shop. No appointments are necessary.

The Emerson Hospital cardiac rehabilitation team works closely with patients who are recovering from heart attacks, bypass surgery, or episodes of angina to encourage behavioral changes through supervised exercise and education.

Cardiac rehabilitation comes at the end of the continuum of cardiology care. Primary care physicians refer participants to the 12-week program. After an initial screening process, patients engage in a comprehensive program of monitored exercising, individual nutrition counseling and weekly educational meetings.

“In our patient-centered program, we work hard to be directive and sensitive,” said Ginny Dow, RN, BC, cardiac rehabilitation program coordinator. “Change is not easy, but renewed physical capacity, independence and good health are the end result of the effort.”

The goals of the program are multi-faceted, according to Dow. “We work to assist in weight loss, decreased cholesterol, increased exercise ability and instilling a sense of control and a feeling of hope,” said Dow. “A patient who once felt that another heart attack was inevitable, now feels certain that it is not. That represents a patient success story.”