What the doctor orders –
What the patient wants: A return to the normal routines of life.

It's not enough to "simply" provide patients with wide ranging treatments for cardiovascular disease. At The Heart and Vascular Institute at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, rehabilitation plays just as important a role in the spectrum of services that we provide. After all, we understand how important it is for every one of our patients to return to the normal routine of their lives. And that's precisely why our teams of dedicated rehabilitation professionals are on hand.

With its four-phase rehabilitation program, The Heart and Vascular Institute is the only source in the region for such a comprehensive level of services. This all-inclusive program focuses on establishing new, healthy regimens for exercise, nutrition, weight management and behavior modification. Most important, all facets of this cardiac rehabilitation program are well-supervised by a professional staff trained to provide post-operative patients with a means to enhance the stamina and all resources necessary to enable a full recovery within an appropriate period of time.

At the Institute, our cardiac rehabilitation begins the day after surgery, when specially trained rehab nurses – employing a battery of tests and exercises – check the patient's overall condition and health. On a gradual basis, over the next few days, the program expands to include interaction with cardiologists, dietitians, technicians and social workers. Even the families of patients are involved. Our professionals are careful to address all questions and concerns as they arise – with great sensitivity and compassion for all. Meanwhile, they get to work at developing a more customized or individual program of rehabilitation for each patient.

Two weeks after discharge, patients return to the hospital for a follow-up meeting with our rehab staff. The patient's health and progress are reassessed and further arrangements or treatment adjustments are made. If all is going well, the patient makes the transition into ongoing outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

During the outpatient phase of the program, patients are guided through a three-month regimen by specially trained RNs and fitness instructors. At all times, these experts work to ensure complete patient safety throughout every step of the program. Also, for the sake of continuity, they arrange regular consultations with the patient's cardiologist and primary care physician. The result of these meetings is usually the development of a custom rehabilitation program that's suited to the patient's particular needs. As required, exercise programs are provided at our fully equipped STAR Fitness facility at the Thomas P. Saxton Medical Pavilion in Edwardsville – and they're always supervised by professional staff members who are trained in cardiac-related disciplines as well as CPR and advanced lifesaving techniques.