Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a program offered at Central Vermont Medical Center to help patients to continue their recovery from heart attack, heart surgery, or coronary artery stenting. We serve approximately 170 patients per year.

What is the Program?

Our Cardiac Rehabilitation program (Phase II) is a six to 12 week outpatient program. It consists of monitored, progressive aerobic exercise, starting one to two weeks after hospital discharge. Your doctor, in conjunction with our program’s cardiologist, can help you and your family decide whether this program should be part of your recovery plan.

• Exercise sessions are held three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri: 7:00 am - 11:00 am) in our specially designed Cardiac Rehab area.
• Each participant follows an individualized exercise plan.
• Exercise is conducted in groups of 8 to 10 persons for approximately one hour and includes:
  • A warm up period
  • Exercise on a treadmill and/or stationary bike, rowing machine or arm ergometer
  • Monitoring of the patient’s heart rate and rhythm
  • A cool down period
• Education is provided in group sessions held once a week as well as through individual teaching.

Our Goal

• Help patients regain their confidence.
• Provide on-going educational support and counseling.
• Assist patients in understanding and adapting to their coronary artery disease and reducing risk factors through lifestyle changes.
• Help the individual return to and maintain the highest possible level of physical, mental, social and recreational functioning.

When You Complete the Program

At the completion of the program, participants are encouraged to follow a home exercise and diet program to maintain the highest level of heart health possible.You can also consider participating in our Phase III Cardiac Rehab program.

Phase II Program Costs

One comprehensive fee is charged for each session. This fee includes the cost of cardiac monitoring as well as physician and staff supervision. Most insurance companies cover the cost of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Covered Diagnoses for Cardiac Rehabilitation (as per Medicare Guidelines)
*Most insurance companies follow Medicare guidelines

• Acute myocardial infarction within the preceding 12 months
• Coronary artery bypasses surgery
• Current stable angina pectoris
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary stenting
• A heart or heart-lung transplant
• CHF

*Effective for dates of service on and after February 18, 2014, CMS has determined that the evidence is sufficient to expand coverage for cardiac rehabilitation services under 42 CFR §410.49(b)(1)(vii) to beneficiaries with stable, chronic heart failure, defined as patients with left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IV symptoms despite being on optimal heart failure therapy for at least six weeks. Stable patients are defined as patients who have not had recent (< 6 weeks) or planned (< 6 months) major cardiovascular hospitalizations or procedures.