Hendrick Health’s Intensive Cardiac Rehab Program Doubles Down on Educational Information

In the year since Hendrick Health introduced its Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program, patients with cardiovascular disease are exercising not only their body but also their minds for a healthier heart.

Hendrick Health’s history of cardiac rehabilitation dates to 1992 with the introduction of the outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation program to help patients recover from major cardiac events.

The original 36-session program focuses on exercise in a safe, controlled environment with participants wearing a heart monitor. Registered nurses and exercise physiologists, specially trained in cardiac rehabilitation, provide exercise guidance and offer educational information on nutrition and stress during some sessions.

To enhance the educational component, Hendrick Health partnered with Pritikin, founder of the Pritikin Program. The comprehensive lifestyle program has been taught for more than 50 years to help address health through diet and exercise. More than 100 peer-reviewed, published studies by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have established the program’s health benefits.

The new Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program added 36 educational sessions to the 36 exercise sessions.

“The educational sessions are giving more of the ‘why’ behind the heart-healthy lifestyle changes we teach participants,” said Megan Raynes, program manager for Hendrick Health Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation. “By answering their specific questions, we’re helping to address some misinformation and guide participants to be confident about proven strategies to have success in their recovery.”

Participants in Hendrick Health’s new Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program attend education sessions before or after exercising.

Presentations can include videos, cooking demos with questions and answers or individual nutrition counseling. Topics include heart-healthy foods, stress and anxiety management, goal setting and developing and maintaining a healthy mindset.

“We’re seeing more engaged patients in this augmented program,” said Raynes. “The goal is to help them recover and reduce the risk of a future cardiac event.”