The cardiac rehabilitation team at Windham Hospital recently earned national accreditation for their commitment to improving the quality of life of patients through enhanced standards of care.
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) awarded the designation to the Windham cardiac rehabilitation service, part of the Heart & Vascular Institute.
“We are thrilled to have the efforts of our team recognized by the AACVPR. Certified programs are considered leaders in the field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high-quality patient care,” said Tori Tyler, regional director for the Heart & Vascular Institute.
To become AACVPR accredited, programs must comply with the group’s standards.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to improve the cardiovascular health of anyone who had a heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty or heart surgery. The program consists of exercise counseling and training; education for heart-healthy living; and counseling to reduce stress.
All activity in cardiac rehab is supervised by medical professionals monitoring patients for cardiopulmonary symptoms, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, and response to medication. The program can also help people with peripheral artery disease avoid surgery.
“Studies have shown cardiac rehab to be more effective in reducing death rates after a heart attack than medicine,” said Teresa Lafleur, a cardiac rehab registered nurse.
For more information on the Windham Cardiac Rehab Program, click here.