Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program is celebrating its 25th anniversary. We've helped thousands of people from all over the country get back to a normal lifestyle after heart procedures.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is an essential part of cardiovascular services offered through the Sherman Health Regional Heart Center. Through the rehabilitation program, the cardiac patient and family receive physical, emotional and social support in returning to a normal lifestyle.

Cardiac Rehabilitation consists of individually prescribed exercises and education designed to return the patient to optimal health. This exercise program is established through your physician, physical assessment and counseling with the cardiac rehabilitation team. Emphasis is placed on what the patient can do to prevent and reduce the recurrence of heart disease. Referral to any phase of cardiac rehabilitation is through the patient's physician.

There are four phases to Sherman Health Regional Heart Center's cardiac rehabilitation program:

Phase I
This phase begins when the patient is in the hospital recovering from a cardiac event. Emphasis is placed on education for the patient and family as well as supervised exercise. The patient is discharged with special home care and recovery instructions to be followed during recuperation. Follow-up phone calls are made to the patients in 2-3 weeks after discharge from the hospital to make sure the patients have met with their physicians and to help set up Phase II.

Phase II
This phase is conducted on an outpatient basis. The primary focus is supervised exercise and risk reduction counseling. Prompt return to work and recreational activities are emphasized to ensure a better quality of life.

Sessions are held at various times throughout the day, beginning with warm-up exercises and followed by an individually prescribed program of aerobic activity (walking, biking, rowing, etc). A cool-down period completes each session allowing the cardiovascular system to return to a resting state. During exercise, the patient's EKG, blood pressure, heart rate and perceived exertion is continuously monitored by cardiac nurses.

Counseling, patient education and modifications of the patient's lifestyle are a vital part of the rehabilitation program. Weekly education classes are conducted to further educate the patient and family on preventive lifestyle measures.

Sherman Hospital's Phase II program hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Phase III
Phase III is a continuation of rehabilitation for patients who have completed Phases I and II or for those who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. This program is designed to promote continued cardiac improvement and lifestyle modification. All patients are counseled and evaluated for effectiveness of their individualized exercise program and the risk reduction goals.

Sherman Hospital's Phase III program hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Phase IV/Adult Fitness
This phase is designed to promote cardiac awareness and identify risk factors in apparently healthy people. An evaluation is performed prior to beginning the program to screen for potential risk factors and identify individualized exercise goals.

"The Beat Goes On" Senior Aerobics Program
This program is for individuals interested in an organized exercise program. Participants receive instruction from a cardiopulmonary staff member. The program includes moderate aerobics with a warm-up and cool-down, resistance training and flexibility/balance exercises. "The Beat Goes On" meets two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.