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Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation

SSM Health cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs provide comprehensive care to individuals with heart or lung conditions. This program was developed as a way to help you heal and strengthen your heart and lungs through the structured use of exercise, education and counseling. By enrolling in this program you and your family will have access to many tools to help you on your road to recovery.

Our facilities feature state-of-the-art exercise and weight training equipment to help you regain your strength and fitness. Structured exercise programs will be designed to meet your lifestyle needs and exercise goals. Our professional rehab staff will monitor all exercise sessions to ensure your safety as you progress through the program.

Find an SSM Health cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation location near you to learn more about the cardiac and pulmonary rehab services available in your area.

Rehabilitation Program Information

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

This exercise and fitness program is ideal if you have had a serious cardiac condition, such as:

Heart attack
Heart bypass surgery
Stable angina (chest pain)
Stent placement, angioplasty or other
Non-invasive heart procedures
Valve replacement

The rehabilitation process started by your caregivers in the hospital must be continued after your discharge to ensure a full and healthy recovery. Participating in a cardiac rehab program improves your physical fitness, minimizes cardiac symptoms, like chest pain and shortness of breath, and reduces the risk of future heart problems, such as heart attack and heart failure.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Our pulmonary rehabilitation program is designed to help people with chronic lung diseases minimize shortness of breath, increase activity tolerance, and improve strength, endurance, and flexibility. The program may benefit people with the following conditions:

Asthma
Bronchitis
Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
Cystic fibrosis
Emphysema
Lung transplant
Pulmonary fibrosis

Through our structured education and exercise program, you’ll learn how to manage your lung disease, improve your ability to perform your daily activities, and feel better overall.

Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Phases

SSM Health’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program starts you on your path to wellness with a safe and personalized fitness program. All of our programs are supervised by registered nurses, respiratory therapists or exercise specialists. Our gradual, but progressive, program is divided into three phases:

Phase 1: Inpatient Rehabilitation

Phase 1 begins with the education you and your family receive in the hospital. We’ll take you through walking exercises your physician may prescribe during your stay.

Phase 2: Outpatient Rehabilitation

Upon discharge from the hospital, your physician may refer you to a cardiac or pulmonary rehab program to help manage your future health. We’ll develop a custom plan, based on the personalized exercise prescription written by our medical directors. Our rehabilitation programs combine supervised exercise and educational instruction in one-hour sessions, multiple times a week for up to 36 visits, depending on your medical benefits plan. While at our facilities, you will exercise in a safe environment, surrounded by others who have had similar health experiences.

Phase 3: Maintenance Rehabilitation

Phase 3 is an optional maintenance program available at select SSM Health locations. This phase continues the heart or lung healthy progress you’ve already achieved if you wish to continue exercising in a supervised setting.

Throughout all phases of the program, consider the cardiac and pulmonary rehab staff as your personal trainers and educators. They will empower you with the knowledge, purpose and desire to regain your health, as well as your overall fitness within safe levels. They will also share valuable advice to help you achieve goals such as:

Weight loss
Smoking cessation
Stress management
Healthy cholesterol levels
Lower blood pressure
Healthy eating

How to Enroll

Cardiac and pulmonary rehab services are usually covered by Medicare and most insurance plans. A physician's consent is required to enroll in our rehab programs. Our staff will work with you and your physician to determine the most appropriate plan for your individual needs. To learn more, contact the SSM Health cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation location nearest you.

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