Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Cardiac rehabilitation is a structured program to improve heart function as well as overall health. It involves:

Medical evaluation
Prescribed exercise
Education
Counseling

We recognize that one of the greatest concerns facing any person with a previous heart condition is preventing a similar heart event in the future. Our department teaches people about their disease, symptoms, and management; and ultimately helps those with heart disease improve their coronary risk factors.

Our program

Rao Velaga, MD, FACC, medical director of our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, leads our team of cardiac clinicians who closely monitor the recovery process. The structured program begins with an initial evaluation from which we develop a personalized exercise program. With a primary focus on helping people return to activities of daily living, we emphasize aerobic exercise as it is one of the most important factors in enabling patients to recover from cardiac events.

Expected benefits

Improved exercise tolerance
Improved cholesterol levels
Improved quality of life
A feeling of control over personal health
Confidence to perform routine daily activities

Our services are covered under many health plans, including the federal Medicare program.

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Jennie Stuart Health offers an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program that typically begins shortly after a heart patient is discharged from the hospital. Patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty, myocardial infarction, heart attack, or those diagnosed with stable angina may be referred to the program by their primary care physician.