BMH Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital's Outpatient Cardiac Rehab program begins shortly after hospital discharge. Our comprehensive medically supervised program is designed to get patients on the road to recovery and better health. Our program is divided into 3 phases:
PHASE 1 -- Hospital Implementation
Patients complete the first phase of cardiac rehab in the hospital. When patients meet us, they're ready to progress to the next phase.
PHASE 2 -- EKG-Monitored Exercise at Cardiac Rehab
This is actually the first step in outpatient cardiac rehab. This phase includes EKG-monitored exercise and lasts one to three months. (For patient safety, a physician and emergency equipment are available during monitored exercise.)
During PHASE 2 of Cardiac Rehab, we offer:
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A Personalized Exercise Prescription: The cardiac rehab team develops an exercise program to meet individual patient needs. The prescription details workload, target heart rate, and the duration and intensity of exercise recommended. Continuous EKG Heart Monitoring during Exercise: Three times each week, patients come to our facility for exercise sessions with EKG heart monitoring.
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A Variety of Cardiovascular Conditioning Equipment: We provide state of the art equipment including treadmills, NuSteps, air dynes, stationary bicycles, free weights and wall pulleys, and a large screen plasma television to view while working out.
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Education: We loan educational videos for patients to view at home or in a private room in our facility. Our staff will even recommend videos to address each patient's individual needs. Our video library includes rehab professionals offering education in the areas of cardiac rehab, blood pressure, nutrition, medications, cardiac interventions, tobacco use, stress management, and diabetes.
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Individual Risk Factor Modification: We consider each patient's lifestyle and make individualized recommendations.
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Ongoing Contact with Physicians Involved with Patient's Care: Mid program reports and final reports are sent to physicians to notify them of patient's progress.
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Emotional Support: We care about our patients, so we make every effort to support them during the recovery process and beyond.
PHASE 3 -- Unmonitored Maintenance
When EKG-monitored exercise is no longer necessary, patients progress to phase three. Participants continue to exercise but without EKG monitoring. Medical professionals are availabe to take action if patients experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or other cardiac-related symptoms.
