Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

Healing through exercise and education.

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (Cardiac Rehab) is a medically supervised program that provides outpatient services to patients managing heart and vascular disease. Patient services include supervised exercise sessions, education and encouragement in a group setting. Services are physician directed and provided by registered nurses, exercise physiologists and dietitians. Cardiac Rehab also treats patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease through our supervised exercise therapy.

​​Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Our program has met essential standards for quality patient care in Cardiac Rehab, as well as demonstrates our alignment with current guidelines as approved by the AACVPR. ​

We have a multi-disciplinary program staffed with registered nurses, an exercise physiologist, a registered dietitian and a board-certified medical director. This team of professionals, along with the patient’s primary care physician, assists the patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle through monitored exercise and education.​

Benefits of Cardiac Rehab

Based on scientific studies, Cardiac Rehab has shown to benefit by:

• Increase exercise tolerance
• Improvement of blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Improvement of mental well-being and reduced stress
• Decreased risk of another cardiac event or being readmitted into the hospital
• Encouragement of smoking cessation
• Education about healthy eating and taking medications as prescribed

Goals of Cardiac Rehab

Patients and their families can feel confident that our staff has the experience and skills necessary to deal with all the issues that a life-changing cardiac diagnosis can lead to.

The goals of the Archbold Cardiac Rehab Program are to:

• Assist patients in attaining independence and self confidence
• Enhance the patient’s ability to perform daily activities
• Encourage positive nutrition and provide a better understanding of the patient’s condition

How can I participate in Cardiac Rehab?

A physician referral is required.

You may be eligible for Cardiac Rehab if you have experienced:

• Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack within the last 12 months)
• Bypass Surgery
• Heart Valve repair or replacement
• Stable angina (chest pain)
• Stent or balloon angioplasty
• Congestive heart failure (EF< 35%)
• Heart transplant
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) with leg pain

Most insurance companies cover all or most of the cost of the program, but physicians can call to inquire if their patients can qualify. For uninsured patients, Archbold offers patient financial assistance. For more information about patient financial assistance, call 229.228.2000.

How does the program work?

Phase 1:

This phase begins in the hospital soon after a cardiovascular event or completion of an intervention. After discharge, you should meet with your physician and discuss with them the benefits of Cardiac Rehab.

Phase II:

Patients attend Cardiac Rehab 2-3 times a week for 36 sessions that last approximately one hour. Patient’s heart rate and rhythm will be monitored the entire session by a registered nurse and vital signs will be taken before and after exercise. The exercise physiologist will decide which equipment each patient will use and develop an exercise plan catered to your needs. At this time you will also receive education on your condition and have a chance to meet with the dietitian.

Phase III:

After a patient has completed Phase II, they can participate in Phase III at their doctor’s recommendation. Phase III consists of 36 supervised, but non-monitored exercise sessions.

PAD supervised exercise program:

Patients attend vascular rehab 2-3 times a week for 36 sessions that last approximately one hour. Each patient will have an individualized treatment plan designed by an exercise physiologist. PAD rehab will improve circulation, thus decreasing pain caused by too little blood flow to your arms and legs to regain activities of daily living. Personalized education will also be provided to patients. After patients have completed 36 sessions, an additional set of 36 sessions may be completed depending on the patient’s needs.

For more information about cardiovascular rehabilitation at Archbold, call (229) 228–8053.