Cardiac Rehabilitation

For over 20 years, Seton Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program has provided assessment, comprehensive monitored and supervised exercise training, risk factor education and modification and support for patients with cardiovascular disease. The program targets persons with a history of angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack), angioplasty, stent or heart surgery. Through patient and family education and progressive, supervised exercise, the program works to restore the patients physical and mental well being and improve physical function and activities of daily living, recreation and vocation. The program has national certification by the American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Program staff include cardiologist medical director, master’s prepared exercise physiologists, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, registered dietitian and social worker. Regular progress reports are sent to the referring physician and a discharge summary is sent at the end of the Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

The ‘state of the art’ gym includes 10 Treadmills, 11 stationary Bicycles, 2 Arm ergometers, Elliptical machine, Cardioglide, Rowing Machine, Wall Pulleys, Stairmaster stepping device, Shoulder wheel, NuStep, Hand weights, Hydrofitness resistance machine and flexibility routines. 

Education targets modifying risk factors for heart disease, including:

1. Identification and control of cardiac risk factors
2. Proper use of medication
3. Exercise principles and prescription
4. Heart healthy nutrition taught by registered dietitian
5. Stress management class and weekly support group
6. Multiple educational resources including books and videos are available 

Once the patient has been referred to the program, a comprehensive assessment includes medical history, risk factor assessment, identification of patient goals and plan of care development. Pre and post testing include SF 36 quality of life questionnaire, ‘fat screener, self-report of grams of fat intake and pre and post exercise MET level.

The early outpatient program (Phase II) provides telemetry EKG monitoring, blood pressure and symptom monitoring with incremental increase in exercise levels. Long-term cardiac fitness program (Phase III) is designed to improve cardiac fitness, continued structured exercise and support to maintain motivation and adherence to lifestyle changes and newly changed risk factor modification habits.

Staff will assist the patient with insurance coverage information. For questions about Cardiac Rehabilitation, call 650-991-6750 or email chrisgarvey@dochs.org.

Cardiac RehabilitationLocation:

Lower Level of Seton Medical Center