Cardiac Rehab: Healing Hearts at Perham Health

Who would have thought a knee injury I sustained in high school basketball would lead me to where I am now?  My recovery process from that injury introduced me to physical therapy. While attending NDSU, I became interested in the effects of exercise on the heart and first learned about cardiac rehabilitation. I went on to graduate school where I earned a master degree in clinical exercise physiology with an emphasis on cardiac rehabilitation.

As a New York Mills native, the opportunity to come home and be a part of the local community brought me to Perham Health in January, and I am excited to be back in the area. There is a welcoming culture, and I enjoy the professional atmosphere where we can bounce ideas off of one another.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Cardiac Rehab is a medically supervised program to improve heart health after a heart attack or heart surgery. There are three phases to our program. The overall goal of the program is to help patients become healthier, while managing their current hea​rt condition and preventing further heart complications.

Phase 1 takes place in the hospital after a person has had a heart attack or heart surgery. We focus on getting patients up and moving.

After a patient goes home from the hospital, they start phase 2 of the program. Patients come in three times a week for up to 36 sessions over three months. Sessions are typically 1 hour and include exercise training, education, and nutrition consultations. We watch their heart and blood pressure before, during, and after exercise.

Patients are placed in a small group with 3 – 4 other people with heart problems. Everyone will be at their own level. I am amazed at the small group camaraderie that develops as patients work out together and share their stories with one another.

The program is highly personalized based on a patient’s abilities and experience. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, the program gives patients peace of mind knowing that their heart is functioning correctly and confidence in knowing what they can do on their own.

Phase 3 is a non-monitored workout program where patients come in on their own as often as they want, anywhere from one to four times a week. It gives patients a place to work out where they can feel safe, and if something doesn’t feel right, we can hook them up to a monitor to see what is going on.

It’s like a gym membership, but with health care people nearby if you need them or you have questions. We have treadmills, recumbent bikes and recumbent stepping machines that they can use.

Patients often gain more confidence in Phase 3 and many follow up by getting a membership at a local gym.

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a relatively new field with great benefits. Research has shown that patients who go through a phase 2 cardiac rehab program have lower incidences of readmission for each session that they attend.

The nutrition consultations, education and exercise all help by improving overall heart health. The ability to be more active and learn breathing techniques that help keep our blood pressure and heart rate down can help patients emotionally and improve their day-to-day life.

I am proud of our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Perham Health. It provides a valuable service locally, so patients don’t have to drive so far for the many sessions. Having worked at other places, I appreciate our ability to give more personalized, one-on-one care than they can at larger care facilities.

We spend a lot of time with patients after their procedures, which allows us to build better relationships. The smaller scale and more personalized attention we can give in rural health care is a wonderful benefit to our patients.

I tell patients to come in with an open mind. We will ease you into the things you can handle and gauge where you are at the beginning. Have patience. The small changes will lead to progress over time that will help you lead a healthier and more confident life.

__________