Cardiac Rehabilitation
Aiken Regional Medical Centers and the University of South Carolina at Aiken have joined together to provide the Aiken Cardiac Enhancement Program for cardiac patients of the area. This program is the only state certified outpatient cardiac rehabilitation service in the greater Aiken community. The program's goal is to restore patients to an optimal physical, emotional, sexual, social, and vocational status compatible with their heart disease.
The program complements the cardiac services offered by Aiken Regional Medical Centers and the local physicians. After leaving the hospital treatment program, patients often require assistance with learning about and coping with their heart disease. It also offers guidance regarding prevention of further events.
BASIC COMPONENTS of REHAB
EXERCISE - Highly supervised one hour classes with ECG monitoring are provided three days per week. These include a routine of multi-modal cardiovascular conditioning and strength training. Physical training is utilized to:
- Assess basic heart function and appropriate response to activity,
- Enhance patient confidence to return to normal daily activities,
- Improve patient's level of physical fitness, and initiate lifelong physical activity.
Equipment utilized are the following: stationary bicycles, rowers, treadmills, stairsteppers, elliptical machines, and Nautilus weight machines. Your heart rate and blood pressure are also monitored during these sessions.
EDUCATION - Group-oriented class sessions are taught on a weekly basis, and cover a variety of topics. Classes include basic information regarding heart disease, treatments of heart disease, identification of various coronary risk factors, and ways to make the appropriate life-style modifications after cardiac events. A multi-disciplinary team provides the classes. These staff members include a registered dietician, psychologist, cardiopulmonary nurse, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and exercise physiologist.
Individual meetings with the dietician and psychologist are scheduled with all participants. Those participants interested in returning to work or seeking new employment are offered numerous services by our vocational rehabilitation counselor.
CANDIDATES FOR CARDIAC REHAB
Patients who have recently had one of the following:
- Heart Attack
- Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Heart Valve repair or replacement
- Invasive Coronary treatment (Angioplasty, Atherectomy, Brachytherapy, Stents, Laser)
- Known Coronary Artery Disease with stable angina
CLASS TIMES
The Cardiac Rehab program consists of three sessions per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions). Education classes are additional to exercise classes. A patient's options for attendance are the following:
- Exercise classes are held on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00a; and Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 5:30p.
- Education classes are each Wednesday at 9:00 and 10:00 AM; and 4:15 PM.
- All sessions are conducted in the USCA Wellness Center.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
A medical referral by your physician is required for admission into the program. Once you have been referred, the rehab staff will conduct an interview with you to discuss your cardiac history, concerns, and to answer your questions. You will then be placed in a class to commence the program. Medicare and private insurance is accepted. However, they may differ in which diseases are covered.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Kimberly Wood Woeber, Director
Holly Guy, Program Coordinator
USC-Aiken
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29801
803-641-3667
Medical Directors are: Preston D. Conger, M.D. & David W. Cundey, M.D.
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