Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Swedish Covenant Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program incorporates medically supervised exercise, lifestyle adjustment and group support into a comprehensive program centered at the Galter LifeCenter, Chicago's premier medically based fitness center.
Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to return you to optimal physical and psychological well-being after a heart attack, angioplasty or open-heart surgery. After these cardiac events, many people are reluctant to resume their normal activities. Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program works to help you recover faster, regain confidence and prevent future problems.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation staff at Swedish Covenant Hospital includes specially trained nurses, exercise physiologists and physicians, as well as a dietician and health psychologist. The team will guide you through a comprehensive, individualized plan that incorporates monitored exercise, education, lifestyle counseling and group support.
Our highly effective multi-pronged approach to rehabilitation was pioneered at Swedish Covenant Hospital more than 30 years ago, and has served since as a model for rehabilitation programs across the country. Additionally, the program's location at the Galter LifeCenter enables cardiac rehabilitation participants to enjoy convenience, ease and comfort, easy access to all related services and up-to-date exercise equipment in a light-filled healing environment.
Who benefits from Cardiac Rehabilitation?
The program is appropriate for:
- Patients recovering from a heart attack, coronary bypass graft, angioplasty or valve replacement
- People with congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
- Those with cardiac risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or family history of heart disease
You must have a physician's order and recent stress test for Cardiac Rehabilitation; talk to your primary care physician or cardiologist. Your referring physician will receive periodic reports about your progress to ensure seamless communication of your medical needs.
Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Swedish Covenant Hospital takes a holistic approach to cardiac health. Our individualized plan for each patient includes each of the components below.
EDUCATION
One-on-one and group education sessions are designed to give you a better understanding of cardiac health and risk factors. Topics include specific nutritional issues, medications, blood pressure, cholesterol, importance of exercise, mind and body connection, coping with stress and others as needed. Through lectures, interactive discussions and video presentations, you will gain a thorough understanding of the best ways to live after a cardiac event.
EXERCISE
After a complete evaluation and cardiac stress test, you will work with our therapy team to create an individualized exercise regimen. You will then implement this regimen gradually and safely, with the goal of increasing strength, endurance, energy and confidence. The staff supervises all exercise and medically monitors each participant's cardiac function and blood pressure to ensure that exercise remains safe and beneficial.
Your exercise plan may include work on the treadmill, stationary bicycle, NuStep (a recumbent stepper specially designed for rehabilitation patients) or weights to increase both upper and lower body strength. The staff and physicians at Swedish Covenant Hospital are there to guide you through your workout and assist with any problems that might arise.
LIFESTYLE COUNSELING
Participants learn about cardiac risk reduction and healthy lifestyle changes for your heart that can aid in ongoing recovery. This encouragement can help patients adjust to the psychological shock of a cardiac experience and modify their behavior to prevent further problems.
GROUP SUPPORT
A social support system is important in minimizing the depression that can be common after a cardiac event. Cardiac rehabilitation participants enjoy organized outings as well as informal socializing and support from others who are struggling with similar issues. Monthly "Heart-to-Heart" meetings offer education and sharing for patients and their families.
Three Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Swedish Covenant Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program involves three treatment phases to ensure the best recovery for your heart and a healthier lifestyle.
Phase I and II are generally covered by Medicare and most insurance policies; however, Phase III is not usually covered.
PHASE I
An inpatient exercise and education program, Phase I is for those who have been hospitalized with cardiac events. It includes walking assistance, resumption of daily living activities and a range of motion exercises.
PHASE II
Phase II is the initial outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, which begins 4-6 weeks after leaving the hospital. It begins with an orientation session to familiarize you with the facilities and program, which meets in the Galter LifeCenter 3 times a week for up to 12 weeks. Phase II includes medically supervised monitored exercise and education in the following areas: nutrition, stress management, controlling blood pressure and risk reduction.
Family members are welcome and encouraged to attend the educational portion of the program.
PHASE III
When certain fitness goals are met, participants then graduate to Phase III, a medically supervised, community-based conditioning program. Offered 5 days a week with evening classes available, Phase III includes a maintenance exercise program involving less monitoring and educational seminars. This phase is designed to preserve for a lifetime the benefits gained by participation in the program.
If you are new to Swedish Covenant Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Phase III, your program will begin with an orientation session to familiarize you with the facilities and program.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
Swedish Covenant Hospital's outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program combines monitored exercise, education and breathing retraining into a comprehensive program centered at the Galter LifeCenter, Chicago's premier medically based fitness center.
For people suffering from lung disease, life becomes increasingly difficult due to fatigue and shortness of breath. Pulmonary rehabilitation can increase your strength, endurance, functioning and independence, as well as dramatically improve your quality of life.
At Swedish Covenant Hospital, the Pulmonary Rehabilitation team will work with you to get you back on the path to good health. The staff includes exercise physiologists, nurses, a dietitian and a health psychologist if needed. The team will create a comprehensive plan, customized just for you through a highly effective approach that incorporates education, exercise and breathing retraining.
Rehabilitation participants enjoy the convenience, ease, comfort and state-of-the-art facilities of the Galter LifeCenter, as well as easy access to all related services, private consultation rooms and the most up-to-date exercise equipment in a light-filled, healing environment.
Who benefits from Pulmonary Rehabilitation?
The program is appropriate for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic and acute lung diseases.
You must have physician's order for Pulmonary Rehabilitation; talk to your primary care physician or pulmonary specialist. The referring physician will receive periodic reports about your progress to ensure seamless communication of your medical needs.
For more information, please contact the Pulmonary Rehabilition Program at (773) 878-8200, Ext. 7321.
Components of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Swedish Covenant Hospital takes a holistic approach to lung health. Our individualized plan for each patient includes each of the components below.
EDUCATION
One-on-one and group education sessions are designed to give you a better understanding of your disease. Topics include specific pulmonary diseases, medications, symptom management, oxygen use, stress, coping with chronic disease and other topics as needed. Through lectures, interactive discussions, video presentations and printed materials, you will gain a thorough understanding of the best ways to live with lung disease.
EXERCISE
Although exercise may seem out of the question for many lung disease sufferers, it is not. After a complete evaluation, you will receive an individualized exercise plan to implement gradually and safely. Its goal is to increase strength and endurance while decreasing shortness of breath.
The staff supervises all exercise and medically monitors each participant for oxygen saturation, level of exertion and difficulty breathing to ensure that exercise remains safe and beneficial. Your exercise plan may include work on the treadmill, stationary bicycle, arm bicycle or NuStep (a recumbent stepper specially designed for rehabilitation patients). Paced walking on an indoor track, weights for strengthening and exercises to improve flexibility and balance may also be included.
BREATHING RETRAINING
Training in breathing techniques to ease shortness of breath will give you the confidence to begin participating in exercise. You will also learn how to use these breath control techniques in your everyday life, an important step towards regaining lung health.
For more information, please contact the Pulmonary Rehabilition Program at (773) 878-8200, Ext. 7321.
Three Phases of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Swedish Covenant Hospital's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program involves three treatment phases to ensure the best recovery for your lung health.
Phase II is covered by Medicare and most insurance policies; Phase III is not generally covered, but check with your insurance carrier to be sure.
PHASE I
The first phase begins with inpatient education during hospitalization, when necessary.
PHASE II
The initial outpatient program, Phase II meets 3 times a week in the Galter LifeCenter for up to 10 weeks or fewer, if progress is rapid. Participants graduate to the next phase after achieving certain fitness goals.
PHASE III
A medically supervised maintenance exercise program, Phase III involves less monitoring. It is designed to preserve for a lifetime the benefits gained by participation in the program.
For more information, please contact the Pulmonary Rehabilition Program at (773) 878-8200, Ext. 7321.
