Cardiac Rehabilitation
Norton County Hospital offers cardiac rehabilitation as one of its many rehab services.
What is Cardiac Rehab?
Cardiac rehab (cardiac rehabilitation) is a comprehensive therapy combining prescribed exercise training, cardiac risk factor modification, education on heart health, diet and nutrition counseling and psychosocial support that helps you recuperate, build confidence and get stronger after you’ve had surgery or medical treatment for a heart issue, such as a heart attack.
Health care providers offer expertise and guidance throughout your personalized cardiac rehab program. The program typically takes at least three months. Cardiac rehab can help you regardless of your age, gender or whether your heart issue was minor or major.
The goals of cardiac rehabilitation include establishing a plan to help you regain strength, prevent your condition from worsening, reduce your risk of future heart problems and improve your health and quality of life.
Research has found that cardiac rehabilitation programs can reduce your risk of death from heart disease and reduce your risk of future heart problems. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend cardiac rehabilitation programs. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers these comprehensive programs if you’ve had at least one of these conditions:
- A heart attack in the last 12 months
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- Current stable angina (chest pain)
- A heart valve repair or replacement
- A coronary angioplasty (a medical procedure used to open a blocked artery) or coronary stent (a procedure used to keep an artery open)
- A heart or heart-lung transplant
- Stable chronic heart failure
Cardiac rehab is usually covered by most private insurance companies as well. The rehab staff will take care of checking into eligibility for potential patients.
Three phases of Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac rehab begins before the hospital discharges you and should continue long-term.
Phase 1: Inpatient (starting while you’re a hospital patient).
Phase 2: Outpatient (going to appointments and then going home afterward).
Phase 3: On your own (keeping up exercises on your own and at your own expense). Norton County Hospital offers a partially monitored in-house exercise program for $40 a month.
Why is Cardiac Rehab done?
Cardiac rehab helps people who’ve had a heart attack or other heart problem recover by outlining an individualized plan for safely improving physical health and identifying and managing other risk factors. Cardiac rehabilitation also emphasizes the importance of psychological health and quality of life. It provides holistic support for every part of rehab so you’re not alone in reaching your goals.
Long term, joining cardiac rehabilitation and utilizing the skills taught can help you:
- Improve strength
- Adopt heart-healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet
- Cut bad habits, such as smoking
- Manage your weight
- Find ways to manage stress
- Learn how to cope with heart disease
- Decrease your risk of coronary artery disease and other heart conditions
Contact Information
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab are located on the lower level of the hospital. The easiest way to get there is through the Outpatient/Specialty Clinic entrance, and take the elevator down to the basement. You may park in the main hospital lot.
Hours vary based on patient appointments. For more information, contact:
Lacey Ninemire, RRT
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Manager
Phone: 785-874-2223
Fax: 785-877-2841
Email: lninemire@ntcohosp.com