Cardiac Rehabilitation is a medically supervised program for adults with heart disease that includes exercise, education, and emotional support.
Who can benefit?
Patients may benefit from this program if they have experienced or undergone any of the following heart conditions or procedures:
- Heart attack
- Chest pain with a positive stress test
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary angioplasty or stent
- Heart surgery, such as valve repair or coronary bypass
- Heart transplantation
What you can expect from cardiac rehabilitation
The program is a combination of exercise and education sessions, two to three times per week, up to 36 sessions total (depending on insurance plan coverage). A member of the cardiac rehabilitation program staff will conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine your needs and limitations. The team will then create a physical activity program tailored to your specific needs and goals. At these sessions, your heart rate, cardiac rhythm and blood pressure will be monitored during physical activity.
In addition, the program offers a range of instructional and supportive services:
- Education for heart-healthy living, to help manage risk factors and make heart-healthy nutritional choices
- Guidance about managing conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Regular communication with your health care team about the progress you make in our rehab program
- Stress reduction counseling, to help you identify and tackle everyday sources of stress, which strain your heart
- Motivational counseling and psychological support to help you set goals and get you back to your everyday activities such as work, volunteering and social/family interactions
- Medication therapy management and education
- Social interaction, support and accountability from other patients
The program features small class sizes, flexible schedules and state-of-the-art exercise and monitoring equipment.
The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation
The services provided by our rehabilitation team - which consists of physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians, pharmacists and behavioral specialists - help participants achieve the following results:
- Reduced risk of future heart problems
- Reduced chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath
- Increased stamina and strength
- Increased confidence and emotional well-being
- Improved overall quality of life
Program admission
If your physician thinks you will benefit from the cardiac rehabilitation program, he or she will discuss a referral with you. Medicare and most private health insurers cover the majority of the cost. Please check with your insurance company to verify coverage. For further information or to enroll, call 415-514-9269.
Location
We are located on the Parnassus campus right next to the Subway sandwiches and Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation.
UCSF Medical Center
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center
500 Parnassus Ave., Floor B1, Suite MU09
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 514-9269 | Fax: (415) 514-9270
Email: [email protected]
