Thanks for visiting our cardiac rehabilitation department's web page. We will try to answer some of your questions about outpatient cardiac rehabilitation and give you some basic information. If you cannot find the answers to your questions here, please call us at (928) 692-4605 or email at cardiacrehab@azkrmc.com. We will be glad to help you and possibly get you started on the road to better health and a better quality of life!
What is outpatient cardiac
rehabilitation?
If you have heart disease or other heart related problems, your physician
may request that you get enrolled in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation
program. People who have had heart attacks, controlled chest pain (angina),
open heart surgery, stent/angioplasty, valve replacement, and/or congestive
heart failure (CHF), are the typical types of people that we see. The program
mainly consists of exercise and education. Exercise will be 3 times per
week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and is monitored by a nurse and an
exercise physiologist. Your heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm, and
rate of percieved exertion are monitored and your exercise is adjusted to
match your endurance level. Your risk factors, such as nutrition, smoking,
stress, cholesterol, etc., are reviewed and you are educated on how to alter
these risk factors so as to improve your health and quality of life. The
program is generally 3 months long, and by the end of the program, you will
be feeling better, exercising for around 45 minutes straight, and you will
know so much more about your body and how to take care of yourself.
Why would I want myself or
my spouse to be in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program?
Once you have been diagnosed with
heart disease, congestive heart failure, or valve disease, you do not just
get "cured". You have a condition that needs life-long changes
in order to prevent you from having more problems. This program will help
you recognize "warning signs", when to call the doctor, how to
reduce your risks for future occurences, and how to make changes in your
health habits that will make you not only possibly live longer, but also
increase the quality of your life.
How will I be able to afford
this program?
Most insurances cover the program.
Medicare will cover 80% of the charges if you qualify. If you have had a
heart attack or bypass surgery in the last 12 months, or if you have controlled
chest pain (angina), then you qualify under Medicare guidelines. If you
have supplemental insurance, it will generally cover the remaining 20% of
charges. Most private insurance companies cover cardiac rehabilitation services
for the above conditions and a few others, such as congestive heart failure,
valve replacement, and/or stent or angioplasty. However, when you look at
the benefits of the program compared to the costs, even if you have to self-pay,
the program is well worth the financial costs.
How do I get into the program?
To participate in the program,
simply mention it to your physician and tell him/her that you are interested.
If he/she feels that it would be appropriate for you, he/she will write
a prescription for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Then, all you do is
get hold of us, and we will help you with the rest. You can also have your
physician contact us or give us the prescription for you, and we will assist
him/her in getting you started. To contact us, you can call us at (928)
692-4605 or email us at cardiacrehab@azkrmc.com.
We look forward to hearing from you, and we hope that we may someday be able to help you or a family member with your health concerns.
 |
Serving Our Community with Compassion and Commitment |