Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program was recently awarded certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
The goal of cardiac rehab is to help heart patients recover faster, reduce the risk of future heart problems, and improve their quality of life by implementing healthy lifestyle changes. These changes include adopting a physically active lifestyle and a heart-healthy diet. Education on stress management, controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, smoking cessation and stress management is also included.
Each cardiac rehab program is individually designed to meet a patient's needs. It begins with a complete medical evaluation by a specially trained physician. During the program, heart patients are given a chance to learn how to exercise again safely while under the supervision of a registered nurse, exercise physiologist or respiratory therapist. Programs can last from 12-36 weeks depending on a patient's circumstances and goals.
To achieve the AACVPR certification, HRRMC participated in an application process that required extensive documentation of its cardiac rehab program's practices and met strict standards of practice. AACVPR certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other professional societies.
AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. The certification is valid for three years.
For more information on HRRMC's Cardiac Rehab Program, call (719) 530-2280 or visit www.hrrmc.com.
About AACVPR
Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families.
