Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive program of exercise, education and support that can help you make important lifestyle changes, improve your quality of life, and help you and your family learn to live without worry about your cardiac disease.
When choosing a program you should first ask: Does the program have a medical director? Program staff can include registered nurses, registered clinical exercise physiologists, registered physical therapists, and other exercise staff. Health professionals with advanced training in emergency cardiovascular care should be present at all times. In addition to providing you with additional safety should you encounter problems, these professionals will help you develop the confidence in your own abilities. The program you select should be certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation(AACVPR). At least one staff member should be a memeber of the AACVPR and the CT Society for Cardiac Rehabilitation.
What kind of facilities are provided for exercise? Look for a program with stationary bicycles, treadmills, or various other cardiovascular training equipment including resistance equipment such as weights and elastic bands. Elaborate physical conditioning equipment beyond these three essentials is not necessary and is not as important as the knowledge and training of the program staff. The facility may be located in the hospital or at an offsite facility.
How is the program tailored for your needs? Beware of programs that have "one-size-fits-all" exercise program. A program should be designed for your specific needs as determined by your physician's direction and by the program's staff. Your exercise program should be put together by staff with special training in working with heart patients. During your program, your progress should be monitored and recorded.
How is the facility equipped to handle an emergency? The facility should be staffed with trained medical professionals and equipped with emergency equipment such as a defibrillator.
Are patients monitored during exercise? A heart monitoring system is essential for patients during the early phases of their program. As their confidence and ability grows, this monitoring may no longer be required. Once a heart monitoring system is no longer needed (as determined by the program staff), patients should at least have their pulse rate and blood pressure checked periodically during exercise.
Are lifestyle habits other than exercise addressed? Exercise is only one component of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation staff should discuss with you modification of other risk factors, including management of stress, body weight, diet, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking cessation. Exercise alone will not produce the results you are looking to achieve. The staff will also teach you about managing your symptoms and about your medications. Other staff members who may be a part of the cardiac rehabilitation team include registered dieticians, mental health professionals, and pharmacists.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
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Branford Yale New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center Cardiac Rehabilitation - Branford* 84 North Main Street Phone: (203) 483-3107 Fax: (203) 483-3187 Website: Click Here Bridgeport Bridgeport Hospital Cardiac Rehab 1305 Post Rd. Suite 105 Phone: (203) 256-5896
Fax: (203) 256-5796
St. Vincent’s Medical Center* - Cardiac Rehabilitation 2800 Main Street Phone: (475) 210-5012 Fax: (475) 210-6148
Danbury Danbury Hospital* 24 Hospital Avenue Phone: (203) 739-7983 Fax: (203) 739-7987 Website: Click Here Farmington Farmington Cardiac Rehabilitation 11 South Road, Suite 260 Phone: (860) 696-0080 Fax: (860) 696-0085
Glastonbury Hartford Hospital in Glastonbury* 305 Western Blvd - Suite 104 Phone: (860) 633-9084 Fax: (860) 633-9204
Hartford Hartford Hospital* 85 Seymour Street - Suite 607 Phone: (860) 972-2133 Fax: (860) 545-3352 Website: Click Here
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center * - Phase I and II Cardiac Rehab 114 Woodland Street Phone: (860) 714-4538 Fax: (860) 714-8001
The Fitness Center at Saint Francis* - Phase III/Maintenance Program Cardiac Rehab 95 Woodland Street Phone: (860) 714-4538
Middletown Middlesex Health Cardiac Rehabilitation* 534 Saybrook Road, 2nd Floor Phone: (860) 358-2450 Fax: (860) 358-2451
New Haven Yale New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center Cardiac Rehabilitation - New Haven* 175 Sherman Avenue Phone: (203) 789-4158 Fax: (203) 789-4081 Website: Click Here
New London Lawrence & Memorial Hospital* 365 Montauk Avenue Phone: (860) 442-0711, Ext 2582 Fax: (860) 444-3740
Norwich Backus Hospital 326 Washington Street Phone: (860) 823-6336 Fax: (860) 823-6526 Website: Click Here
Southington The Hospital of Central Connecticut at Bradley Memorial* 81 Meriden Avenue Phone: (860) 276-5304 Fax: (860) 276-5344 Website: Click Here Torrington Charlotte Hungerford Hospital* 780 Litchfield Street Phone: (860) 496-9512 Fax: (860) 496-9959 Satellite: Winsted Health Center
Waterbury St. Mary’s Hospital 56 Franklin Street Phone: (203) 709-6202 Fax: (203) 709-5121
Waterbury Hospital - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 64 Robbins Street Phone: (203) 573-7118 Fax: (203) 573-6733
Willimantic *Windham Hospital - Healing Hearts Phase 2 & Phase 3 Maintenance Program 112 Mansfield Ave. Phone: (860) 456-6103 Fax: (860) 456-6077 Website: Click Here |
Bristol Bristol Hospital* - Bernie Guida Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Center 43 Brewster Road Phone: (860) 585-3580 Fax: (860) 585-3463
Derby Griffin Hospital - Hewitt Pavilion Outpatient Center* 350 Seymour Avenue Phone: (203) 732-7106 Fax: (203) 732-1418 Website: Click Here
Enfield Johnson Memorial Hospital* - Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation 15 Palomba Drive Suite 4 Phone: (860) 763-7683 Fax: (860) 253-9905 Fairfield Bridgeport Hospital 1305 Post Road - Suite 105 Phone: (203) 256-5896 Fax: (203) 256-5796
Greenwich Greenwich Hospital - Center for Healthy Living Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation* 500 West Putnam Ave. 3rd floor Phone: (203) 863-3756
Fax: (203) 863-4590 Website: Click Here
Manchester Manchester Memorial Hospital - Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation* 71 Haynes Street Phone: (860) 646-1222, Ext 2166 Fax: (860) 533-2933 Website: Click Here
Meriden MidState Medical Center* 435 Lewis Avenue Phone: (203) 694-8541 Fax: (203) 694-7606 Website: Click Here
New Britain The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus* 100 Grand Street Phone: (860) 224-5462 Fax: (860) 224-5815 Website: Click Here
New Milford New Milford Hospital 21 Elm Street Phone: (860) 210-5328
Fax: (860) 210-5329 Website: Click Here
Norwalk Norwalk Hospital* - Cardiac Rehab 24 Stevens Street Phone: (203) 852-2194 Fax: (203) 855-3653
Putnam Day Kimball Hospital 320 Pomfret St. Phone: (860) 963-6315 Fax: (860) 963-6454
Sharon Sharon Hospital Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation 50 Hospital Hill Road Phone: (860) 364-4221 Fax: (860) 364-4299
Stamford Stamford Health System* 32 Strawberry Hill Court, 2nd Floor Phone: (203) 276-2183 Fax: (203) 276-2193
Vernon
Rockville General Hospital* - Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab 31 Union Street Phone: (860) 872-5171 Fax: (860) 872-5125 Website: Click Here
West Hartford Mandell Jewish Community Center - Phase III/Maintenance Program Cardiac Rehab 335 Bloomfield Avenue Phone: (860) 714-4538
Winsted Charlotte Hungerford Hospital at Winsted Health Center* 115 Spencer Street Phone: (860) 738-6660 Fax: (860) 738-6692
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* Denotes current cardiac rehabilitation program certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Program certification status is based on information obtained from the AACVPR website (aacvpr.org). Program re-certification is required every 3 years.