Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation is a comprehensive program designed to help patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. Regular attendance is essential to build the desired cardiovascular fitness. This program meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Wellness Center, located on the lower level of the hospital.
About Cardiac Rehabilitation
The certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at UNC Health Lenoir provides people who have heart disease with a medically monitored exercise program. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a program that helps patients adopt heart-healthy lifestyle behaviors. This experience will include structured exercise, nutrition counseling, and psychological support.
If you have heart disease, talk to your doctor about joining the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at UNC Health Lenoir. Physician referral into the program is required.
Our Rehabilitation Program is certified under the auspices of DHSR and AACVPR.
Supervised Exercise Therapy for Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Supervised PAD rehab is a Class 1A recommendation for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Our program consists of a medical director, nurses, and exercise specialists who are trained to develop exercise programs and provide in-depth education for individuals with PAD.
Supervised exercise therapy (SET) for symptomatic PAD is a service that includes:
- Prescribed exercise to improve PAD symptoms without exceeding safe limits.
- Education about symptom characteristics, risk factors, foot care, and heart disease, including counseling with ways to stabilize PAD by improving risk factors.
Benefits may include:
- Reduction/cessation of smoking
- Improvements in cholesterol values
- High blood pressure management
- Weight loss/control
- Management of diabetes
- Increasing physical activity capacity
- Development of healthy eating habits
- Improved health-related quality of life
Those who are eligible for the SET program include patients who are diagnosed with symptomatic peripheral artery disease.
Referral is Easy!
UNC Physicians may refer through our EPIC work queue:
LENH Cardiac Rehabilitation Kinston
OR
Contact Cardiac Rehab/SET Program Staff
Brittney Howard
Program Director
(252) 522-7071
Katie Potter
Cardiac Rehab Nurse
(252) 522-7009
Fax (252) 522-7821
FAQs
How do I know if this is right for me?
In the past year if you have experienced the following, then you are eligible for Cardiac Rehab:
- Stable Angina
- Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Angioplasty and/or Stent
- Valve Replacement/Repair
- Heart Transplant
- Congestive Heart Failure
How do I get started?
A total rehabilitation experience is planned for each participant considering diet and nutrition, stress management, weight control, job demands, and physical conditioning needs. The program helps patients adopt “heart healthy lifestyle behaviors.” Our exercise specialist will develop a personal exercise prescription based on your stress exercise test and physical abilities. The program typically lasts 36 sessions.
Please contact Brittney at 252-522-7071 for more information.
Fees/Insurance
The expenses of this program are usually paid by major health insurance companies. Many plans pay for all or significant parts of the program costs. Certified under the auspices of DHSR and AACPVR.
How long does rehabilitation take?
Our exercise specialist will develop a personal exercise prescription based on your stress exercise test and physical abilities. The program typically lasts 36 sessions. Your progress is monitored daily with re-evaluations conducted and when you exit the program.
Is this a group or personal session?
There are three monitored group exercise sessions offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Wellness Center, located on the lower level of the hospital. Regular attendance is essential to build the desired cardiovascular fitness.
What can I expect during a standard session?
Each available session is patterned with:
- 10 minutes of Stretch and Flex Exercises
- 30 minutes of Aerobic Conditioning
- 15 minutes of Cool Down Activities, Relaxation, or Education
What kind of equipment will I be working with?
Walking is the primary aerobic conditioning activity chosen. As your physical condition allows, the treadmill and PreCor may be used to achieve aerobic conditioning. Stationary bicycles, arm ergometers, Octanes or NuSteps may be used by people unable to walk for extended periods.
What is the AACVPR Certification?
Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is dedicated to our mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families.
