Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation
A heart attack. It's one of the most frightening experiences we humans can have. And yet what is life like after a heart attack? At Memorial Hospital of Converse County we work with patients on the road to recovery post-heart attack and help them take progressive steps to a healthier lifestyle. A heart attack event doesn't necessarily mean the end of life—it can quite often signify the beginning of a new chapter for our patients, and we are honored to be along for the ride!
Our Cardiac Rehab team begins with a referral from a physician in the region. Most often our patients are referred to us after a heart event, either attack or cardiac arrest. When this happens and their attending physician releases them, they are referred for rehabilitation as close to home as possible. For those in Douglas and the surrounding region, that leads them right to our facility. Our healthcare providers meet one-on- one or in small groups with our patients to assess their prognosis, set attainable goals, and work with them to get them on the road to recovery. Most work to become fitter and healthier than they were prior to their cardiac event.
Utilizing not just physical fitness equipment, but also nutrition and a focus on overall wellness, our Cardiac Rehab team focuses on the whole health of our patients, not just the heart muscle alone. Realizing that the heart can affect and be affected by multiple systems and variables, we continuously stress the importance of a multilevel approach so that our patients' overall health is greatly improved within the 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation.
Our goal is nothing less than the longevity of your life, and we firmly believe that a heart attack—no matter the base cause—can be a starting point to a new and far healthier chapter in your life!
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic lung diseases can have a significant impact on your quality of life. At Memorial Hospital of Converse County, our pulmonary rehabilitation team works with patients to help build a program that focuses on exercise and nutrition while strengthening their lungs. Although pulmonary rehabilitation will not cure lung disease, it can help improve lung function and reduce symptoms.
Anyone with a chronic lung diagnosis qualifies for our pulmonary rehabilitation program. Some of these diagnoses include:
- Asthma
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19, Cystic Fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Lung Transplant
- Neuromuscular Disease
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Sarcoidosis
- Post-Thoracic Surgery
A written physician referral is needed to participate in the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Memorial Hospital of Converse County. In addition to the written referral, there must be documented function impairment of the patient. These impairments include shortness of breath or dyspnea during daily activities, reduced exercise tolerance, and impaired quality of life due to respiratory symptoms. Other needed documentation includes:
- A recent Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) that reflects reduced FEV1/FVC 43% or less of predicted and/or low DLCO.
- Medically Stable to participate in physical activities
- Motivated to workout two (2) times a week for 8 to 12 weeks
Benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation include:
- Reduced feeling of breathlessness
- Improved understanding of diagnosed lung disease
- Management of breathing during daily living
- Energy conservation
- Relaxation techniques
- Nutrition
- Reduced hospital admissions
- Improved confidence to get out into the community