MountainView Regional Medical Center offers a Number of Therapies

Physical Therapy
Physical therapists are trained to help people regain movement and function in their daily lives. Emphasis is placed on the resolution of pain and restoration of abilities needed for posture, balance, and coordination of movement. Individual education programs are developed to promote active, healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of future disability and improve quality of life.

Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help people recovering from injury or illness which effect the use of upper extremities and limit function for activities of daily living. Therapists can also assist in adaptations and use of adaptive equipment when appropriate to enhance coping skills. Occupational therapy focuses on developing programs that assist people and their family to independently manage their daily lives.

Speech Therapy
Speech-language therapists assess each patient’s cognitive, speech, and language abilities. They develop treatment programs to assist people communicate to the highest level of their abilities. Therapists also evaluate and treat the person’s swallowing skills and implement strategies for improving their feeding abilities.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Mountain View Regional’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program consists of a comprehensive team approach to help patients understand how to manage cardiac disease and improve overall health and quality of life.  The goals of cardiac rehab are to increase functional capacity, strength and stamina; educate patients on the management of heart disease; identify and modify risk factors; prevention of a worsening condition and life-long lifestyle modification.

 Current insurance covered diagnosis includes:

Ø      Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Ø      Myocardial Infarction

Ø      Heart Valve Repair/Replacement

Ø      PTCA/Stenting

Ø      Stable Angina (Documented)

Ø      Heart Transplant

Phase I – Inpatient Cardiac Rehab

This phase begins in the hospital following a coronary event.  It involves constant cardiac monitoring and continual assessment of the effects of interventions including medications and exercise.  The immediate goals of Phase I are to clinically stabilize the patient, progress functional activities, ready the patient for discharge home and educate the patient and family on cardiac disease management and secondary prevention.

Phase II – Outpatient Cardiac Rehab

This phase begins two or three weeks after discharge from acute hospitalization.  A cardiologist or primary care physician will write a referral for outpatient cardiac rehab when the patient is ready.  The patient will gradually increase strength and endurance while participating in continuously monitored and supervised exercise sessions.  A tailored exercise program will be designed to meet the patients’ needs with individual limitations taken into consideration.  Educational classes will also be offered to provide information on lifestyle modification.  Upon graduation, we encourage participation in Phase III.

Phase II cardiac rehab is a medically monitored outpatient exercise program designed for those who have had a recent heart illness or surgery / procedure.  This program includes regular exercise and risk factor modification to help you regain your confidence, strength and stamina while recovering. 

Prior to starting Phase II a physician referral is obtained, approximately 1 - 2 weeks after discharge from the hospital, insurance coverage is verified and an initial appointment is scheduled for a one-on-one assessment with the cardiac rehab staff.

During Phase II you are given the opportunity to participate with other patients that have all been through some form of heart surgery or procedure such as yourself.  This allows you the unique opportunity to talk to others in a relaxed setting and discuss issues that you have all encountered. 

Participation consists of three exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks for a total of 36 sessions.  Flexibility in scheduling is available to meet your individual needs. Exercise sessions include four main components: warm up, aerobic exercise, strength training and a cool down.   Sessions usually last approximately one hour in length. 

 Session assessments include:

Ø      ECG monitoring

Ø      Heart rate monitoring

Ø      Blood pressure monitoring

Ø      Oxygen saturation monitoring

Ø      Medication review

Ø      Blood glucose monitoring pre/post exercise for diabetic patients

Ø      Problems / changes since last session

Ø      Weight management

 Education sessions are presented on the following topics:

Ø      Anatomy & Physiology of the Heart

Ø      Blood Pressure Control

Ø      Nutrition

Ø      Cholesterol

Ø      Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques

Ø      Smoking Cessation

Ø      Medications

Ø      Exercise

Ø      Diabetes

Physician Reports

Correspondence with your physician will take place throughout the program as appropriate.  A final report will be sent to your physician upon graduation from the program.

 WHAT YOU MAY BE FEELING

Having CAD (heart disease) can be stressful. You may have worries about your health and future. If you ignore these feelings, they can slow your recovery. Get the help and support you need from family and friends.

Focus on Your Goals

Keep in mind that recovery takes time. But gradually you should be feeling better. Focus on goals that are important to you. These may include returning to work, being active again, or spending more time with your family.

Talk About Your Feelings

After having heart problems or surgery, it’s normal to feel depressed and angry. You may have trouble accepting that you’re ill. Your family or partner may feel some of the same emotions. Discuss your feelings openly. Talk about what you plan to do for yourself and how your family can help. Support each other through each stage of your recovery.

Prepare to Make Changes

It is common to feel some denial, but the sooner you accept your health condition the better. Unless you make some changes in your life, you are at high risk for more problems. At first, it may be hard for you to face making lifestyle changes. Your family and friends can work with you to help make these changes easier.

Know That You Are Not Alone

Making changes isn’t easy. It helps to have a support system you can rely on. Start with your cardiac rehab center. It’s a place where people understand what you’re going through. You can talk to others about your feelings and experiences. You can ask questions about goals and building a healthier lifestyle. And you can work with your cardiac rehab team to set goals and stay on track.

Are you Depressed?

Feeling sad or overwhelmed at times is a normal part of life.  However if sad feelings persist, you may be clinically depressed.  Call your doctor if you:

• Lose interest in foo, sex or other things you enjoy
• Sleep much less or much more
• Have thoughts of suicide
• Feel hopeless about the future
• Are crying more than usualCan’t get through your normal routine

A Well-Rounded Approach

A large part of cardiac rehab is beginning and maintaining a regular exercise program.  We are here to help you learn the benefits of a regular exercise program and how to incorporate this new program into your normal daily activities.

 Why Exercise?

A few of the many benefits of regular exercise are listed below:

·        Improve your blood cholesterol levels to help prevent further heart trouble

·        Lower your blood pressure to help prevent a stroke or heart attack

·        Control diabetes, or reduce your risk of getting this disease

·        Improve your heart and lung function

·        Reach and maintain a healthy weight

·        Make your muscles stronger and more limber so you can stay active

·        Prevent falls and fractures by slowing the loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)

·        Manage stress better

Exercise Prescription

Aerobic exercise will be the focus of your new exercise program. It helps your heart and other muscles better use oxygen.  Equipment such as treadmills, recumbent bikes, arm ergometers, and elliptical machines will be incorporated into your exercise program while being supervised by the cardiac rehab staff.  Resistance training will also be included in your exercise program.  Muscular strength decreases naturally with age, thus is an important part of the recovery process.

Although your exercise program begins in the outpatient cardiac rehab facility, you will be expected to increase your activity at home as well.  After a few weeks of supervised exercise, your cardiac rehab staff will discuss with you the increase in activity expected during the “off” days while you are at home. Exercise incorporation must be a lifestyle modification that is included in your normal daily routine.  Your home exercise program will be individualized to meet your needs and focus on the goals that you have set for yourself.

 Signs of Overexertion

Top exercising and call your doctor if you feel any of these symptoms:

·        Chest pain or discomfort

·        Burning, tightness, heaviness, or pressure in your chest

·        Unusual aching in your arm, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back

·        Trouble catching your breath

·        Racing or skipping heart

·        Extreme fatigue (especially after exercise)

·        Lightheadedness, dizziness, or nausea 

For more information, contact the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Phone (575) 556-6625     FAX (575) 556-7495