Cardiac Rehab

Skiff's Cardiac Rehab program is designed for people who are recovering from a heart-related event such as a heart attack, bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty, stents or unstable angina. Working together with you and your doctor, our Cardiac Rehab staff will design an individualized recovery plan of exercise, education and medical treatment.  You may enter Cardiac Rehab at any of these phases. Each phase builds on dietary, stress management and exercise guidelines.  Your families and friends are invited to share in this learning experience.

Phase 1

Cardiac Rehab Phase I begins during your initial hospital stay. Specially trained staff lead you through basic exercises to gradually rebuild your heart muscle. You learn about your heart and how it is affected by various risk factors including diet, activity, smoking, medications and stress.

After a short recovery at home, your physician may refer you to a Phase II Cardiac Rehab program for continued education and exercise on an outpatient basis.

Phase II

Skiff's Phase II program continues the exercise and educational program you started while in the hospital. Here you will be learning and practicing an exercise program you will continue for the rest of your life. As a Phase II patient, you will come to the Cardiac Rehab unit three days a week for six to 12 weeks.

During your cardiac rehabilitation session, the cardiac rehab team will guide you through a program of exercise training. A wide variety of equipment is available to meet your needs. As you exercise and cool down, the Cardiac Rehab nurse will closely monitor your heart activity by use of sophisticated telemetry equipment.

In addition to learning how to exercise properly, our team will assist you in an individualized educational plan. Topics will include diet, sexual activity, stress management, smoking, medications and returning to your hobbies and/or occupation.

Phase III/Phase IV
 
These two programs are for individuals without an acute heart episode who are interested in changing their risk factors for heart disease.  A physician's order is required for either of these two programs, which promote exericse and maintenance of a healthier lifestyle.

Contact us

To learn more, call (641) 791-4308 or e-mail Nancy Steingreaber, Cardiac Rehab Director, at nsteingreaber@skiffmed.com.