Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center

The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program at Our Lady of the Lake Heart Center is designed to help patients recover faster and return more quickly to a full and productive life following a heart event. An individually designed program involving supervised exercise, education, lifestyle counseling and risk factor modification can help you resume your normal work and leisure activities. They are the key elements to a safe and effective recovery.

Who Can Benefit?

You can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation if you have experienced any of the following:

• Cardiac chest pain
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Heart attack
• Angina
• Congestive heart failure
• Valve replacement
• Balloon angioplasty (PTCA)
• Heart transplant

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program

The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program involves:

• Exercise
  • An individual program of physical activity, carried out in a group setting, is tailored to your abilities and personal needs.
  • Learn how to exercise safely and effectively, while being monitored and supervised by our professional staff.
  • Strengthen your muscles and improve stamina.
  • Exercise classes are offered Monday through Friday. Please call (225) 765-8004 for specific times.
• Education
  • Learn about your heart problem, its causes, treatments and ways to help with lifestyle changes through our Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Education Series classes.
  • Learn how to take more responsibility for your health in order to prevent or minimize any future heart problems.
  • A variety of cardiac education programs are offered throughout the year. Visit our calendar of events for class offerings.
• Counseling and behavior change
  • Develop strategies that will successfully lower your risk of recurring heart disease.
  • Learn specific skills to help you stop unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking.
  • Start healthy behaviors, such as eating a heart-healthy diet and stress reduction.
  • Gather insight into emotional and psychological health after a cardiac event.
• Safe and effective recovery
  • Cardiac rehabilitation has proven to be a safe and effective method to help patients recover from heart difficulties, reduce future hospital admissions and improve patient recovery.

Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation

The phases of cardiac rehabilitation include:

• Phase I: In the hospital. This phase includes low-level activity and initial education following a cardiac event that requires close monitoring.
• Phase II: Outpatient. This phase centers around electrocardiogram (ECG)-monitored, supervised activity according to an individual exercise prescription and in-depth education about recovery and prevention with an emphasis on lowering the factors that cause heart disease. Treatment is guided by patient goals, needs and abilities.
• Phase III: Maintenance. This phase involves minimal supervision of exercise with an emphasis on increased independence. Individuals may continue to exercise at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center until they are confident enough to begin an unsupervised exercise program.

• Phase IV: Independence. This phase continues with unsupervised, independent exercise on your own. Our Lady of the Lake's Cardiac Rehabilitation Center remains a resource for information and advice.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Team

In addition to your personal doctor, the cardiac rehabilitation team is comprised of registered nurses, clinical exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and licensed social workers-each an important resource for your recovery and prevention management.

Referral to Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center

Admittance into the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center requires a referral from your doctor. You can either call us directly or your doctor can provide a referral order. Once the referral has been initiated, we will contact you to set up an orientation appointment and assist you with your insurance arrangements. Medicare and most insurance carriers typically cover at least 80 percent of the cost of services, but it is important to verify coverage prior.

Contact Us

7777 Hennessy Boulevard
(second floor of Our Lady of the Lake Medical Plaza building)
(225) 765-8004
Monday - Friday, 7 am - 3:30 pm

Enter the Medical Plaza parking lot from Hennessy Boulevard. Parking is free for patients visiting the Medical Plaza.