Cardiac Rehabilitation

The cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to help patients recover quickly and improve their overall physical and mental functioning after having a heart procedure, such as open-heart surgery or angioplasty. The program is accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Physicians, nurses, an exercise physiologist, dietitian and counselor work together to reduce the risk of another cardiac event or the worsening of a heart condition already present. Through exercise and education, cardiac rehabilitation can increase heart muscle, reduce risk factors through lowering blood pressure and serum cholesterol, and teach patients the importance of reducing stress, losing weight, eating healthy and quitting smoking.

The cardiac rehabilitation program at St. Mary’s offers three phases of rehabilitation — Phases I, II and III. Phase I is for patients in need of cardiac rehabilitation while they are hospitalized. Patients in Phase II have been discharged from the hospital, but still are in need of monitored rehabilitation. In Phase III, patients participate in an optional maintenance program that provides exercise and guidance on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease

St. Mary’s is the only facility in the Tri-State to offer The Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, the only program clinically proven to reverse the effects of heart disease. The program is for patients who are contemplating bypass surgery or angioplasty, but are seeking an option that may reduce the need for these procedures; those who have previously experienced one or more heart procedures and want to reduce their risk of having a repeat procedure; and people who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. The Dr. Dean Ornish program has demonstrated that lifestyle improvements in nutrition, exercise, stress management and group support can improve blood flow to the heart.