Goals of cardiac rehabilitation include:

• Improve functional status
• Enhance awareness of physical, emotional, social and spiritual issues that contribute to optimal cardiac health
• Increase understanding of heart disease, its prevention and treatment
• Increase strength and endurance
• Establish an ongoing partnership to help maintain new lifestyle patterns and practices
• Encourage a positive outlook on life and a return to work
• Provide support and motivation

Mercy's Integrated Approach

Cardiac rehab includes services provided by a team of healthcare professionals working together to help participants achieve their heart health goals. Registered nurses, exercise specialists, counselors, dieticians, and other experts collaborate to design an individualized program that include exercise, weight control, nutrition education, smoking cessation, stress management, relaxation and psycho-social support.

Getting Started

Your physician makes the referral to our program. While we supervise and monitor your progress, you remain under a doctor's care. Your doctor will receive periodic reports from our staff.

Ready to Go

Participants are scheduled for an Entrance Session to evaluate present health status and obtain necessary medical information. This session will help the staff identify specific goals. This process helps participants set personal goals and get answers to any questions about the program. Because family support is so important, we encourage participants to bring someone along to share in this get-acquainted class.

Get Moving

Exercise sessions are designed to promote cardiovascular training, build muscle strength and improve flexibility. Three times a week, participants visit our center for a one-hour exercise session. All sessions are supervised by the Cardiopulmonary staff trained in coronary care. During each session, general cardiac status, blood pressure response, heart rate and rhythm and exercise tolerance are monitored. Periodic progress reports are sent to your doctor.

Learning Along the Way

Education is a key component of cardiac rehab. Participants learn how the heart works, how risk factors and disease affect the heart and how proper management can reduce the chance of further problems. The education component introduces the concepts of exercise prescription, training (target) heart rate and manual pulse counts. The program also deals with the benefits of exercise, medications, diet therapy, weight control, smoking cessation and stress management.

Staying Healthy - A Way of LIfe

Each Mercy facility offers various options for ongoing health care such as a Cardiac Rehab Maintenance Program, Fit for Life, or discounted fitness center memberships.

For additional information about cardiac rehabilitation, ask your doctor.