Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation

Our cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to reduce the risk of future heart problems by helping patients understand heart disease and develop a healthy lifestyle.

Our pulmonary program is also designed to minimize the progression of pulmonary problems, chronic disease as well as maximize independence, reduce shortness of breath and improve endurance and quality of life.

How do I get started?

You need your doctor's approval to get started in cardiac and pulmonary rehab. Tell your doctor or nurse that you're interested in cardiac and pulmonary rehab and ask which rehab services or plans are best for you.

• In an outpatient setting. You may perform your outpatient therapy in our department located at the hospital, in a medical or professional center, in a community facility such as the YMCA or at your place of work. You may even have cardiac rehab at home. You will be advised to increase the amount of exercise you do. You will also receive education and encouragement to control your risk factors.
• For life. After you have learned the skills of heart-healthy living, you should continue to use them for life.

Keys to heart health

• Exercise: regular physical activity that is tailored to your abilities, needs and interests
• Education: learning about your heart problem, its causes and treatments and how you can manage it
• Counseling: advice on why and how to change your lifestyle to lower your risk of further heart problems
• Behavior change: learning specific skills to enable you to stop unhealthy behaviors such as smoking or to begin healthy behaviors such as eating a heart-healthy diet
• Heart-healthy diet: our nutritional services team is available for consults to assist you in maintaining lower blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol.

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation team

Cardiac and pulmonary rehab services can involve many healthcare providers. Your team may include: Doctors (your family doctor, a heart specialist, perhaps a surgeon), physician assistants/nurse practitioners, nurses, exercise specialists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists or other behavior therapists.

Sometimes a primary care provider, such as your family doctor or nurse practitioner, works alone playing many roles or refers patients to other health care specialists as needed.

The most important member of your cardiac and pulmonary rehab team is you. No one else can make you exercise, or quit smoking or eat a more healthy diet.

• Learn about your heart condition
• Learn what you can do to help your heart
• Follow the treatment plan
• Feel free to ask questions
• Report symptoms or problems

A support network can help you. Your support network may be family, friends, or a group of other people with heart problems.

Family members and friends can make a difference. They may want to learn more about heart problems so their help can be even more valuable. For example, family members may have to learn to let you do things for yourself. Or they may want to learn about preparing heart-healthy meals. Your family and friends can give you emotional support as you adjust to a new, healthier lifestyle.

You may also want the support of other people who have heart disease. Ask your cardiac and pulmonary rehab team if they know of a support group you can join.

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Medcenter One’s cardiac and pulmonary rehab awarded recertification

Medcenter One’s cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program was recently awarded national recertification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACPR).

Medcenter One’s cardiac and pulmonary rehab is a medically supervised program designed to help heart patients recover more quickly and to improve their overall physical, mental and social functioning. Cardiac rehab also helps patients decrease their risk for another cardiac event. National research shows that cardiac death is 26 percent lower in patients who participated in a certified rehabilitation program, compared with those who did not. For more information, call 701.323.6306.

Contact information

Medcenter One Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
300 N. Seventh St.
Bismarck, N.D. 58501