Where the Best Hearts Meet
If you have experienced a Heart Attack, Angioplasty, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Congestive Heart Failure or Angina, our Cardiac Rehabilitation program is for you! This program consists of a gentle exercise regimen designed to help you and your heart gain strength and stay healthy.

What Is Cardiac Rehabilitation?
Cardiac Rehabilitation is a very important therapy you need to have while recovering from a heart attack. It helps get you back on your feet and ready to return to the fullness of your life. You will be educated as to the proper exercise techniques, as well as in nutrition, stress management and solving the problems that are encountered in everyday life after a heart attack.

The Cardiac Rehab program actually has three phases. Phase I, consists of education about your condition, and which you will have previously received as an inpatient while at the Hospital.

Our program consists of Phase II, the monitored phase of the program and Phase III, the unmonitored phase — the goals of which are to get you back on your feet through education and exercise. We staff our program with registered nurses, exercise specialists and cardiac technicians who monitor your physical progress, medications and vital signs, while presenting ongoing educational information. They are always readily available to answer any questions you may have.

Phase II — Outpatient
The outpatient phase is geared toward getting your body moving again and working toward improving your aerobic capacity while on a cardiac monitor. Education is an ongoing aspect of this program. Diet is evaluated and nutritional counseling is available if needed. Safe exercise practice is taught and the patient is instructed in proper exercise techniques. Our patients work out on the treadmill, stationary bike, arm ergometer, wall pulleys and rower. During this time, all of Bayshore Community Hospital's services are available to you, and we make every effort to meet all of our patients' needs. For information about Phase II Cardiac Rehab, call (732) 290-7050.

Phase III — Maintenance Program
Once Phase II has ended, you will be ready to enter the independent exercise stage. You will continue your exercise program as prescribed and will begin to increase your program as tolerated with approval by the exercise physiologist or the registered nurse. By now, you will have learned how to take your own heart rate as taught during the end of Phase II. The purpose of this phase is to teach you to become independent and comfortable enough to exercise at home and on your own. Phase III is held at the Bayshore Fitness & Wellness Center in Hazlet. For information about Phase III, call and ask for the exercise physiologist at (732) 335-3748.

Progress notes will be sent to your primary care physician or cardiologist on a regular basis during both phases of our program.

What You'll Need

• A prescription from your physician.
• Your insurance information.
• A referral or pre-certification depending upon your insurance company's requirements.
• Comfortable loose clothing and sneakers.

More About the Program

• Before you enter the program, you will have an interview so that you can become familiar with the program and what is expected of you, while we learn about you and can begin customizing our program to fit your needs.
• During your first session, you will go through the program on a one-on-one basis with a member of our staff.
• Your blood pressure and heart rate will be recorded at the beginning and end of each session.
• Your heart rate will be recorded during each exercise; your heart rate and rhythm will be monitored constantly while you are exercising.
• Your exercise program will start up slowly, gradually increasing to your target heart rate.
• Your physician will be sent a monthly update of your progress.

How to Contact Us

• Call the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department directly at (732) 290-7050.
• Ask your physician's office to call to make arrangements for you to start the program.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (732) 290-7050.

More information is available about Cardiac Services.