If you are recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problem that required surgery or medical care, cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of your recovery. In addition to improving your overall fitness and your ability to complete daily activities, cardiac rehabilitation can help prevent another, perhaps more serious, heart attack and can help you build heart-healthy habits. Our world-class program is staffed by team members who are have been trained using standards set by the American Heart Association. Your program will be overseen by a specialized cardiologist, in order to ensure that you are placed on the best path for your improvement.
The TGH Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is conveniently located on the third floor at 509 South Armenia Avenue, Suite 301, Tampa, FL 33609. Our 10,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment is easy to access from anywhere in the Tampa Bay area and has its own dedicated parking.
Who needs Cardiac Rehabilitation?
In general, we see patients who have or have had:
- Heart attacks
- Coronary artery disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Heart transplant
- Coronary revascularization with stents or bypass surgery
- Placement of mechanical assist devices (MAD)
Many patients enter TGH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program following hospitalization. Our rehab program has the goal of preventing additional cardiac events for patients and improving your quality of life.
A Phased Approach to Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase I of the recovery process begins while a patient is in the hospital after a cardiac event. Once the patient is able to walk, a physical therapist will perform an evaluation to determine what the patient is able to do physically at a baseline. This sets the stage for the next phase of rehab.
Phase II is a 12-week outpatient program consisting of three sessions per week (36 sessions total) of progressive monitored exercise. Patients will be evaluated and given the choice of completing cardiac rehabilitation either in-person or through our at-home virtual option for care with our trusted partners, Recora. Our dedicated team includes exercise physiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse clinicians, and other medical staff who will create a highly personalized plan for the patient, based on his or her overall health, condition and treatment goals. The patient’s heart rate and heart rhythm are continuously monitored with a mobile ECG telemetry system throughout the Phase II program to ensure the safest possible environment.
During this phase, the patient is also provided educational materials, support group resources, and counseling regarding heart disease, diabetes, medications, nutrition and weight loss, stress management, mental health, risk factor identification, modification, and smoking cessation.
Our on-site physician reviews the patient’s exercise program and their progress throughout Phase II. Once cleared, the patient can graduate from Phase II.
Upon graduation from Phase II, patients are eligible for Phase III, which is an individualized exercise program designed to last the patient's lifetime. We will either help the patient find a suitable local gym, or refer you to Recora, our virtual rehab partner, for options in continued care.
