Discovering you have a heart problem has a significant impact on your life, and there is a multitude of questions you can be asking yourself. How am I going to overcome it? Am I still going to be able to do the things that I love? Will my life ever be the same again? While these questions can seem daunting, there are options out there to help. A cardiac rehabilitation program is an excellent opportunity to help you and your heart get back to being healthy.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised personalized treatment plan for your specific heart problem. This includes evaluating and instructing your physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and other health-related areas. If you’ve experienced a heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty, or heart surgery, you may be eligible to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation
While there are many benefits of being in a cardiac rehabilitation program, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) llists these are the top reasons:

• Live longer and lessen your chances for another heart attack
• Control heart disease symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath
• Stop or reverse damage to your blood vessels in your heart
• Lessen the physical and emotional effects of heart disease
• Improve your stamina and strength, getting you back to your usual activities including work, hobbies, and regular exercise
• Improve your confidence and well-being

Gothenburg’s Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Gothenburg Health is proud to offer a certified cardiac rehabilitation program to eligible participants. While each patient’s program is unique and individualized to their specific heart problem, the program offers*:

• Assessment of your personal risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease
• Beginning and maintaining a personalized exercise plan that works for you
• Psychological/stress assessment and counseling
• Education and support to make healthy lifestyle changes such as:
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Heart-healthy eating
  • Avoiding tobacco and environmental smoke
• Opportunity to meet and share stories with other patients like you
• Monitoring and better control of:
  • Blood pressure
  • Lipids/cholesterol
  • Diabetes
• Improved communication with your doctor and other healthcare providers about your progress following your cardiac event

Gothenburg Health opened its cardiac rehabilitation program in 1987 and has been a certified program since 2000. Ashleigh Brown leads Gothenburg Health’s cardiac rehabilitation program and is also one of the first three professionals in Nebraska to obtain a personal certification.

What does it mean to be a Certified Program and have a Personal Certification?
Certification is a peer-reviewed accreditation process designed to evaluate individual facilities for adherence to standards and guidelines. At Gothenburg Health, we complete performance measures to make sure we are providing excellent care for our patients. This certification is reviewed and renewed every three years. There are only 30 certified programs in the state of Nebraska. 

Ashleigh was one of three individuals from Nebraska who completed the certification when it first became available five years ago. Since then, there have been more individuals from Nebraska and surrounding areas to earn this certification. 

It is a unique certification for a critical access hospital to have both a certified program and staff. We are proud to have Gothenburg Health on the leading edge of certifications and quality care in the industry. 

If you have had a serious heart problem, our cardiac rehabilitation program can help get you back to living a happy and healthy life. Contact our team at 308-537-3661 to learn more about the program and if it’s right for you.

ABOUT GOTHENBURG HEALTH
Gothenburg Health is a premier healthcare facility serving the community of Gothenburg and surrounding areas with state of the art facilities and highly skilled employees. We are a place of help and healing, and a place of education, prevention, and wellness. Since 1969, our passion for caring has come with a dedication to growing and investing in services and capabilities for your best care. We strive to be your continued Partners in healthier living. Gothenburg Health – Well Ahead.

*Information derived from the AACVPR