Cardiac Rehabilitation Services
 
Exercise is often prescribed for patients recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or interventional procedures. Here at Prairie Heart Institute, we recognize the importance of exercise and also the need for patient education. We’ve incorporated both aspects into our cardiac rehabilitation program. Our expert team of healthcare professionals offers a friendly and caring resource for you and your whole family so you can improve the quality of your life. We tailor each phase of our program to meet your individual needs. Patients must be referred to our program by their physicians. Generally speaking, there are three phases to our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Phase I: Inpatient Program
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program actually begins while you are still in the hospital — after you have been stabilized. A nurse presents a risk factor reduction program and helps you begin an individualized exercise routine. This helps build up strength and recondition muscles. You also receive educational information on coronary artery disease, risk factors, diet, stress and exercise.

Phase II: Outpatient Program
The second phase of rehabilitation begins when you are discharged from the hospital. Participants in this medically prescribed program meet three days a week for up to 12 weeks. Classes are held at Prairie Heart Institute and offer a balance of heart health education and a variety of exercises. Each participant is given an individualized exercise prescription. During each exercise session, your blood pressure and heart rate are monitored by a registered nurse and an exercise physiologist. There are group education classes on exercise, weight management, healthy diets, medication, heart disease risk factors, stress management and more. You are also given directions on how to exercise safely in your own home.

Phase III: Maintenance Program
Participants in the maintenance exercise phase meet for one-hour sessions three days per week for as long as they like. An individualized exercise prescription is developed during the first few sessions. Pulses are checked during each session and recorded. Periodically, additional evaluations of blood pressure and heart rhythm are performed. A doctor’s referral is required before starting Phase III.

To learn more, call (217) 535-3990.