Cardiac Care & Rehabilitation

Designed for You

• Return to a safe, healthy, and active lifestyle.
• Participate in a progressive, medically-supervised exercise program to improve your cardiovascular fitness and flexibility.
• Learn how to reduce further risk of coronary artery disease.

Located at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, the program offers patients progressively challenging exercise regimens along with education classes. Patients must obtain their physician’s referral, and a graded exercise test is encouraged. The exercise test helps evaluate each person’s functional work capacity so an effective regimen can be prescribed. Each exercise session is supervised by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program staff, and a series of educational classes are included in the program. Topics covered are: understanding what happened to your heart, exercise principles, medication and stress management, healthy nutrition, and cooking tips.

Phase I of the Cardiac Rehabilitation program is provided during hospitalization for patients recovering from a heart-related diagnosis. The exercise portion consists of low-level activity and walking. Information is provided on activity progression and a home walking program to help prepare you for discharge. In addition, a family support session is offered to prepare for discharge.

Phase II of the Program is designed for individuals who have recently had angina, a heart attack, angioplasty, and/or heart surgery. It consists of individualized exercise programs prescribed by specially trained Cardiac Rehabilitation Program staff. These regimens are gradually upgraded as you progress. Sessions include a circuit-training program, utilizing treadmills, stationary bicycles, arm exercise equipment, and rowing machines. Each participant’s heart rate and blood pressure response are monitored throughout the session. Participation is two-to-three times a week for approximately 12 weeks.

Phase III is an adult fitness, on-going maintenance exercise session. It is open to graduates of the Phase II program and is designed for individuals with heart disease or those who are at risk of developing heart disease, and those who wish to begin, re-enter, or maintain an exercise program. In addition, the program is available to spouses or anyone interested in supervised exercise or a more active lifestyle.

Is the Program Covered by Health Insurance?

Insurance reimbursements for professional fees and/or medical testing is generally available for Phases I and II. Consult your insurance representative for coverage details.

Cardiac Support Group

This discussion group provides education and support for individuals and significant others who have experienced a heart attack or other cardiac conditions.

Click here for more heart services at Munson Healthcare.

If you are a Munson Healthcare patient and have a compliment, concern, or complaint, please contact one of our Patient Liaisons.

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