Methodist Hospital Metropolitan recently celebrated opening its new Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center, expanding its cardiovascular services to cover a broader continuum of care for patients. Located in its own suite on the hospital's campus, the center will serve as a place for patients with heart conditions to rehabilitate so they can live healthier lives.
“We are thrilled to announce our newest service offering with the opening of our Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center,” said Megan Cool Amalakuhan, Chief Operating Officer. “Our hospital will continue to respond to the growing needs of our community through our commitment to bringing high quality, comprehensive care to those we serve.”
The center's multidisciplinary approach is essential for treating and managing acute and/or chronic cardiac disease. In the outpatient program, patients will experience a personalized treatment plan which includes evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and more. Designed to assist each patient with gaining optimal physical, psychological, social, and vocational well-being, emphasis is placed on incorporating long-term lifestyle changes to help protect and preserve cardiovascular function and maintain optimal health.
The center's Qualified Registered Nurses, Dieticians, and Exercise Physiologists can care for patients who've experienced:
- Coronary Bypass or Heart Valve Surgery
- Heart Attack or Heart Failure
- Angioplasty or Coronary Stent Placement
- Chronic Stable Angina (chest pain)
- Pre and Post Heart Transplant
- And Peripheral Artery Disease
"We see patients with a magnitude of diagnoses, but we commonly see those who've had open heart surgery, a stent, chest pain, or heart failure," said Heather Westover, Nurse Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation. "We also can care for patients with LVAD devices, life vests, pacemakers, defibrillators, and more. Many of our patients have other comorbidities like kidney failure, diabetes, or peripheral artery disease, which contribute to their heart problems. We treat adult patients over the age of 18 years old."
Cardiovascular rehabilitation can help enhance a patient's recovery after hospitalization by improving their heart health, decreasing their risk of additional cardiac events, improving their strength, endurance, and flexibility, increasing muscle mass, aide in stress management, and more.
"Beyond risk modification and exercise therapy, we aim to decrease hospital readmission rates for all of our cardiac rehabilitation patients," Westover explained. "We provide thorough education on diagnosis, comorbidities, medication, diabetes and blood pressure control, nutrition, stress management, and ways to improve their quality of life."
Patients can utilize various machines and equipment in the center, such as treadmills, stationary bikes, and free weights. They also offer recumbent steppers for patients with knee and hip issues who can't use the treadmill; this allows them to get upper and lower body exercise.
Learn more about the Methodist Hospital Metropolitan Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center here: https://sahealth.com/locations/methodist-hospital-metropolitan-cardiovascular-rehabilitation-center/