Cardiac rehabilitation helps people recovering from a heart attack, valve or bypass surgery, stent implant or other heart-related problems.  It helps prepare you physically, mentally and emotionally for return to work and normal family and social life. It helps you slowly and safely get back to normal activities and reduce your risk of coronary artery disease by improving physical fitness, overall health and well-being. You’ll work in a group with other patients supervised by our qualified staff of exercise physiologists. A physician referral is required.

What are the benefits?
Cardiac rehabilitation can:

• increase your chances of surviving a heart attack or other heart problem
• increase your ability to be active and exercise
• help you return to work sooner
• help you get back to a normal lifestyle.

The program's support can help you and your family during this difficult time. Perhaps one of the most valuable benefits of cardiac rehab is the improved quality of life. People who have been through the program report feeling healthier and happier than they did before heart disease disabled them.

Conditions we treat
Cardiac Rehabilitation helps with these and related conditions:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) 
• Coronary artery disease 
• Congestive heart failure 
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Cardiomyopathy 
• Pulmonary disease 
• Heart valve repair 
• Aneurysm repair
• Angioplasty / stenting 
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) 

Treatments we offer
We offer two phases of cardiac rehabilitation services for recovering patients. We also develop an individualized exercise program to help you to continue your rehabilitation at home.

• Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation is a progressive exercise and education program that begins in the hospital. It is designed to prevent the ill effects of bed rest and help prepare you to go home. You’ll learn about the risk factors that can affect your heart and learn how your body is affected by exercise or work 
• Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation begins after you leave the hospital. It is a flexible, individualized exercise program designed to improve cardiovascular fitness without exceeding safe limits of exercise. You’ll also learn other ways to reduce your risk for heart disease such as quitting smoking, losing weight and eating a healthy diet. The length of the program is tailored to meet your personal needs and therapy goals. You may participate several days a week for up to 12 weeks. Most cost is covered by insurance. Medicare requires a diagnosis of coronary artery bypass, heart attack (within one year) or stable angina, Stent placement, valve replacement or repair and heart or lung transplantation  Support groups may help you and your family deal with your illness and the lifestyle changes you need to make.

Exercise consultation
With a doctor’s order, staff will develop a personal exercise prescription for healthy individuals to follow at home. Exercise consultation includes fitness and flexibility tests, body fat analysis, body mass index and waist-hip ratio.  This service is typically not covered by insurance.

Wellness and Exercise for Life (WEL)
After completion of cardiac rehabilitation, you may chose to participate in the Wellness and Exercise for Life (WEL) program. The WEL program allows you to continue exercising under the supervision and support of our exercise specialists in the security of our rehabilitation gym.

Contact Information
University of Minnesota Medical Center
Riverside campus
West Building, Room 112
2312 S. 6th St.
Minneapolis, MN  55454
651-982-7843

Fairview's comprehensive cardiology services

Our cardiologists are a part of University of Minnesota Physicians. From prevention and treatment of heart disease to heart transplantation, they bring world-class and award-winning cardiovascular services to you. We offer an advanced array of treatment options and have access to the latest research and medical technologies to provide you with the best care available. Services include:

• cardiology consultations and diagnosis stress testing
• echocardiograms and nuclear imaging
• coronary angiograms including balloon angioplasty
• coronary and drug-eluting stent placement
• clinics that specialize in heart failure and heart rhythm irregularities
• heart surgery and heart transplantation
• left ventricular assist device
• chest pain evaluation
• heart disease prevention
• wellness cardiac rehabilitation programs