Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Florida

Overview

Most patients spend six to 12 weeks in rehab, attending one- to two-hour sessions three times a week.

The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Mayo Clinic in Florida is designed to improve the health and quality of life of patients with heart, lung and vascular disease. It is a collaborative effort of cardiologists, pulmonologists, specially trained nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise physiologists, physical therapists and dieticians. In addition to medically supervised exercise training and individually tailored education, patients have access to programs for smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, psychological and pharmacological counseling and physical and occupational therapy.

The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program is located on the second floor of the Mayo Building. Typically, patients spend six to 12 weeks in rehabilitation, attending sessions that meet for one to two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation are designed to help patients lead active, productive lives — mentally, physically and socially. A comprehensive review of each patient's medical, dietary, psychological and lifestyle issues dictates the best course of treatment for that individual. Specific goals include:

• Prolonging survival (cardiac rehabilitation)
• Helping patients adjust physically and psychologically to their illness
• Improving patients' capacity for physical exertion
• Reducing symptoms
• Reducing risk factors to help prevent future cardiac problems or progression of pulmonary disease
• Providing education and counseling to improve patients' understanding of their condition
• Providing guidance on return to work, when applicable

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation staff review each patient's medical regimen. They work with the referring physician to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to minimize disease progression by using proven preventive medications.

People have undergone cardiopulmonary rehabilitation because they have had:

• angina (chest pain)
• angioplasty, atherectomy or stent placement
• heart attack
• heart transplantation
• lung transplantation
• open heart surgery
• thoracic surgery

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Doctors may also recommend cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation to patients diagnosed with:

• asthma
• bronchiectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• congestive heart failure
• cystic fibrosis
• emphysema
• interstitial fibrosis
• occupational/environmental lung disease
• peripheral vascular disease
• respiratory failure
• sarcoidosis

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Staff

Director:

Keith R. Oken, M.D.