Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Rehabilitation for Heart Patients at Meadville Medical Center (MMC)

Cardiac rehabilitation at Meadville Medical Center (MMC) is an exercise, educational and emotional therapy program for people with heart problems. Our goal is as follows: To restore those with heart disease to their best possible condition and to reduce their risk of future heart problems. Cardiac Rehabilitation is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm.

To Be Referred for Cardiac Rehabilitation at Meadville Medical Center

You must have a physician order and at least one of the following heart problems (note that individual insurance coverage may vary):

• Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction
• Stable Angina
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
• Valve Replacement Surgery (MVR or AVR)
• Balloon Angioplasty (PTCA)
• Coronary Stents

Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation begins as an inpatient heart health education program. This program begins while you are admitted at Meadville Medical Center or at the medical facility that performed your heart procedure.

Stress tests used to determine heart function include:

• Regular treadmill stress tests
• Nuclear exercise stress test
• Chemical stress test / Lexiscan or Dobutamine stress test
• Stress echocardiography / stress echo
• Dobutamine echocardiography or Dobutamine stress echo
• Pulmonary treadmill stress test

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

After you are discharged from the hospital, your physician may refer you to the outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Heart to Heart Program at Meadville Medical Center. Our program consists of an Outpatient Monitored Cardiac Rehabilitation exercise and education program and Heart to Heart Club, a monthly cardiac support group.

Exercise is prescribed for heart patients in order to build strength, flexibility, endurance and self-confidence. Heart patients wear portable heart monitors to ensure safety during their exercise progression. Under the supervision of a cardiac nurse/therapist, exercise sessions are performed three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for up to 12 weeks.

The Cardiac Rehab Exercise Program uses treadmills and stationary bicycles to increase endurance. Arm machines, dumbbells and wall pulleys are used to build upper body strength. At the program onset, you will exercise at a low level. As the program progresses, you will exercise harder for a longer amount of time. Our cardiologists supervise the cardiac rehab program and approve all exercise prescriptions. Your physician is kept informed of your progress through periodic progress reports.