Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Harrison’s Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that helps improve the health and well-being of patients in the hospital after a cardiac event or cardiac surgery.
As early as your physician advises, an evaluation is ordered, and a rehabilitation specialist will visit you at bedside. After a thorough evaluation, a customized plan of education and therapy is developed to fit your needs. For most patients, surgery is just the beginning of the path to returning to wellness.
Rehabilitation Specialists
Occupational therapists (OT) teach cardiac patients how to manage self-care and functional tasks such as bathing and dressing while protecting their chest incision after surgery. They meet with patients before they leave the hospital to ensure they are prepared for their recovery at home.
Physical therapists (PT) focus on restoring the patient’s mobility, strength, flexibility, and balance and preventing further disability. To help with this, you will be asked to walk several times a day during your hospital stay.
CPRehab exercise physiologists educate patients on heart health and the basics of exercise and stress management.
Condition-specific Rehabilitation Services
At Harrison, while rehabilitation is completely customized, there are recommended steps in place for:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
With our cardiovascular surgeons, the inpatient cardiac rehab team has developed a rehab program that begins before surgery. It details:
- What could happen each day after your procedure
- How to use a heart pillow when you sneeze or cough
- How to care for your incision
- How to adapt physically and mentally as you recover
We educate you and family members with dialog, demonstrations, and written materials. The program includes homework assignments, such as leg strengthening, to help speed your recovery.
Acute Myocardial Infarction, or Heart Attack
Your therapist will teach you how to:
- Conserve energy for greater comfort
- Reduce stress and practice relaxation techniques
- Monitor your own condition
- Use any equipment you may need to support your recovery
- Follow an exercise program to gain strength and help prevent the need for future procedures
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure means the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body’s other organs. Physical or occupational therapists will:
- Provide education on energy conservation and good breathing habits
- Teach you how to use adaptive equipment to help you breathe more easily
Harrison Medical Center offers a new CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation (CPRehab) program for Phase 2 and Phase 3 patients as part of its full line of cardiovascular services. Phase 2 is outpatient rehabilitation and monitored exercise. Phase 3 is maintenance exercise that either can be monitored at a participating healthcare facility or completed at home. Learn more about the CPRehab program and services.