Cardiac rehab is a program designed to improve your health and quality of life. Compared to others with similar heart conditions, people who complete the program have:

• A significantly lower risk of another cardiac event

• Decreased risk of death

• Fewer hospital readmissions

• Improved mental health

• Lower overall healthcare costs

Your unique program is determined by your specific heart condition, lifestyle and needs. Still, all cardiac rehab programs aim to:

• Give you greater control over your health

• Increase your ability to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle

• Improve your heart health

• Set you up for long-term success

Wherever you are in Louisiana, you’re likely near an Ochsner cardiac rehab location. Some of our locations offer inpatient and outpatient services, while others specialize in one or the other.

• Ochsner Lafayette General in Lafayette, LA
• Ochsner Health Center - Metairie in Metairie, LA
• Ochsner Health Center - O’Neal in Baton Rouge, LA
• Slidell Memorial Hospital in Slidell, LA
• St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, LA
• St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, LA
  

Cardiac rehab is for adults of any age with a heart condition. Several cardiac conditions, events or surgeries can qualify you, including:

• Acute coronary artery syndrome

• Heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction

• Heart transplant

• Coronary angioplasty

• Coronary artery bypass surgery

• Coronary stent placements

• Peripheral artery disease

• Peripheral vascular disease

• Stable angina

• Valve replacement

• Valve repair

Some people with heart failure also qualify. However, these patients must meet specific medical criteria before being approved for the program. Talk with your provider if you have heart failure and want to know if cardiac rehab is a good fit for you.

Phase 1: Inpatient program

Phase 1 of cardiac rehab starts in the hospital. If you have a planned cardiac surgery, the program often begins with pre-surgery education and planning. For those who had a sudden cardiac event, cardiac rehab starts during the inpatient recovery phase.

Phase 1 typically includes:

• An exercise assessment

• Assessment to determine your independence with daily self-care activities

• Education about activity precautions or restrictions

• Discharge planning, including education about phase 2

• Learning more about your heart condition

• Medication management, if needed

• Starting simple, low-intensity exercise training to maintain your range of motion and help prevent loss of endurance or strength

If you have a qualifying heart condition but aren’t hospitalized, you’ll skip phase 1.

Phase 2: Outpatient

Phase 2 of cardiac rehab is done in an outpatient setting. You’ll come to three sessions a week for up to 12 weeks. Don’t worry if you don’t have the energy to participate. If you felt full of energy, you probably wouldn’t need cardiac rehab. The only thing you need to worry about at first is showing up. Your Ochsner cardiac rehab team will take it from there. As you participate, you’ll gain strength and energy and notice an improved quality of life.

Phase 2 will include:

• An exercise assessment

• Assessment of your ability to do self-care or household tasks

• Education tailored to your unique needs and goals that may include:

• Developing new healthy habits

• Healthy eating at home and in the community

• Medication management

• Monitoring and managing blood pressure, diabetes or other chronic illnesses

• Smoking cessation

• Strategies to lower cardiovascular risk factors

• Stress management techniques

• Tips to save energy and increase safety during daily tasks

• Understanding your health conditions

• Weight management

• Aerobic activity to boost heart and lung health

• Individualized exercise training

• Strength training

• Training on how to safely use exercise equipment

• Warm-up and cool-down exercises

During exercise, your cardiac rehab team will closely monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs to make sure you’re not overdoing it.

We would also like to include your family members in your program if possible. This helps them better understand your heart condition and how it may affect your life. It also helps them know how to support you during your heart health journey.

We can refer you to Ochsner behavioral health if you need additional mental health support during your recovery.

After Phase 2: Supervised exercise program

When you finish phase 2, you’ll stop coming in for rehab sessions. However, we encourage you to continue your heart health journey either at home by exercising on your own or through a supervised exercise program. This will help you transition successfully to independent exercise.

Two options for continuing your exercise regimen are the Ochsner medical fitness program or seeing a personal trainer at one of the Ochsner Fitness Centers.

All patients need a doctor’s order to participate in cardiac rehab. If you have a planned cardiac surgery or are hospitalized due to a cardiac event, your surgeon or hospitalist can order cardiac rehab. If you have a chronic heart condition, received a new cardiac diagnosis or had a recent cardiac event, ask your cardiologist or primary care doctor about a referral to outpatient cardiac rehab.

Once we receive your referral, we’ll reach out to schedule your first appointment.

Referring providers can call the clinic concierge at 855-312-4190.

Insurance coverage varies between insurance providers. Medicare and most private insurers pay all or a portion of the cost of cardiac rehab for those who qualify. However, to avoid surprise costs and ensure you understand what your insurance does and doesn’t cover, it’s crucial to talk with your insurance carrier before starting cardiac rehab.