Cardiac Rehabilitation

Your cardiologist is likely to prescribe cardiac rehab if you:

• Heart attack in the last 12 months
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Stable angina (chest pain)
• A heart valve repair or replacement
• Coronary angioplasty or coronary stent
• Heart transplant
• Congestive heart failure

Cardiac rehab has many proven benefits. It can help:

• Lessen your chance of reoccurrence and live longer
• Control heart disease symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath
• Lessen the physical and emotional effects of heart disease
• Improve your stamina and strength
• Improve confidence in your ability to perform usual activities, including of work and exercise
• Manage a healthy weight

Phase I is typically covered under your hospitalization plan. Phase II is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare, although there may be some exceptions. If you have a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator or severe heart failure, check with your doctor and insurance company to make sure cardiac rehab is appropriate and covered.

Phase III, the maintenance phase, is usually not covered by insurance.

Phase I occurs while you're still in the hospital after treatment for a heart condition or a heart procedure. It involves education only. You learn about your heart disease risk factors and how to prevent future heart problems. You also learn how to maximize your health with medications, nutritious foods and exercise.

You'll work on aerobic exercises, such as walking on a treadmill, using an elliptical machine or riding a stationary bike. As you continue the program, your team may increase the duration and resistance of your exercise. A cardiac rehabilitation specialist monitors your heart's response and communicates with your doctor. You may also do strength training with free weights or machines if your doctor clears you to do so.

You progress to Phase III, the maintenance phase. During this phase, you continue your exercise regimen on your own and apply the lifestyle changes you learned in Phases I and II. We offer several fitness centers with strength training equipment, group exercise classes and more. Insurance usually doesn't cover Phase III, but our fitness center memberships are available at a reasonable monthly rate.

BayCare also offers the Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) program. The ICR program consists of two-hour sessions three times a week for 12 weeks. The first hour of each session includes medically supervised exercises that follow your tailored exercise plan. The second hour includes:

• Cooking lessons on how to prepare heart-healthy meals and read food labels
• Interactive workshops and videos about exercise, nutrition, stress and anxiety management, goal setting and more
  
  

You also receive a guidebook with weekly meal planners, grocery lists and recipes to help sustain your progress at home.

ICR is available at BayCare Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor and soon will be available at BayCare Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. Find out how BayCare's ICR program empowers patients.