Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
An individualized and personalized treatment plan, including evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and other health related areas. An important part of the treatment of your specific heart problem.
If you have one of the following diagnoses you may be eligible to participate.
- Heart Attack
- Angina
- Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
- Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
- Heart failure
- Heart transplant
What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?
Pulmonary Rehabilitation helps to improve quality of life. It cannot cure lung disease; however, it can lead to improved breathing effort and fewer breathing problems. Other benefits include:
- Decreased symptoms of pulmonary disease.
- Improved function in activities of daily life.
- Increased ability to exercise.
- Decreased symptoms and better management of anxiety and depression.
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Sarcoidosis
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer and lung cancer surgery
- Lung volume reduction surgery before and after lung transplantation.
Exercise and Education
Pulmonary Rehabilitation includes exercise classes and education about your lung disease or condition. In effect, it teaches you how to "live better" with your lung condition. Staff will develop a customized physical activity plan tailored to your needs. These exercises will help improve your endurance and muscle strength.
Educational classes focus on COPD as well as other chronic lung diseases to provide information such as:
- Medications, including drug action & side effects.
- Using an inhaler.
- Breathing retraining & strategies for managing breathing problems.
- Self-care techniques.
- Understanding and using oxygen therapy.
- Diet, nutrition, and weight management.
- Maintaining healthy behaviors such as smoking cessation, good nutrition, and exercise.
- Managing your disease and reducing your dependence on costly medical resources.
- Symptom assessment and knowing when to seek medical treatment.
Your Pulmonary Rehabilitation plan also addresses coping mechanisms. People who have chronic lung diseases are more prone to depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems. Staff can refer you to services that can provide psychosocial support.
You must obtain a referral order from a licensed physician to begin Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. You may bring it to our scheduling department, or it can be faxed to us at: 912-369-9502.Once we have your order, we will verify your insurance and inform you of any co-pays or co-insurances you may be responsible for, schedule your initial evaluation, and pre-register you.On the day of your appointment, you must report to registration first, then to the rehab department where you will be seen by the clinical staff.If you have any questions about Cardiac or Pulmonary Rehab you can reach us at 912-369-9448.Rehabilitation is not something that happens in one session; it's a process. It is designed to restore you to your fullest potential. Therefore, it will take regular participation for a period of time to achieve the desired outcome(s).
Our coordinators are committed to helping you achieve your maximum potential, but it takes you, the patient, to actively participate in each session. You may also be instructed in a home activity program that you will need to carry out on your own during, and probably after therapy. Completion of your home program, as instructed, will help make your rehab a success. We look forward to working with you!
