Cardiac Rehabilitation

St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney offers comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation services that help people with heart disease return to an active and satisfying life and to prevent recurrence of cardiac events.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program helps you:

• Take better control of your health
• Reduce the risk of further heart problems
• Live longer
• Learn how to exercise for a healthy heart and get stronger
• Feel better, faster recovery - emotionally and physically
• Learn how to reduce stress
• Become more confident
• Return to your former social and work activities

St Vincent’s Cardiac Health Program

The National Heart Foundation of Australia recommends all patients with cardiovascular disease are routinely referred to an appropriate cardiac rehabilitation program.

Cardiac Rehabilitation begins from the moment you are admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital and continues beyond discharge to your recovery.  It helps you make an effective recovery by providing exercise, education and advice and involves input from Cardiologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians and Social Workers.  By the end of the program you should feel better and be able to lead the life you want to lead.

Who should attend?

Patients living in the St Vincent’s Hospital local area are invited to participate in the Hospital’s Cardiac Health Program. Patients who live outside the St Vincent’s Hospital area are referred to their appropriate outpatient local service, metropolitan or regional.
The Cardiac Health Program at St Vincent’s Hospital is designed for anyone who has had a heart attack, coronary artery stenting, heart surgery or the insertion of an ICD (Defibrillator).

Individualised education and exercise program

Patients are assessed by the Cardiac Rehabilitation team of Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians and Social Workers. Each client is given an individualised education and exercise program which is tailored to provide support and improve recovery. The aim of the program is to provide support through the event and condition to make you feel and live better.

Where & When

Physiotherapy Department - Twice weekly for 4-6 weeks
St Vincent’s Public Hospital
Level 4, Aikenhead Building

Education topics

• Understanding heart disease
• Understanding medications and how they work and the long term benefits for your heart
• Healthy eating
• Stress management
• Returning to work, sport and leisure activities
• Managing issues such as stress and depression, and their relationship to heart disease

Your Local Service

There is a Cardiac Rehabilitation Service near you. Please contact the St Vincent’s Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Department for the contact details of your local service.

Tel:  02 8382 2321

St Vincent's Heart Health website 

For more information on cardiac rehabilitation visit the St Vincent's Heart Health website. 

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