Cardiac Rehabilitation

Atlantic Health System Heart Care helps thousands of patients every year enjoy longer, healthier lives through cardiac rehabilitation. Our program, which is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, has three phases:

Phase I – Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation

Progressive, therapeutic exercise designed to build confidence and independence begins immediately following cardiothoracic surgery at Morristown Medical Center. Cardiac telemetry registered nurses and exercise physiology specialists guide patients through a personalized mobility routine and teach them the importance of risk factor identification, medical management and good nutrition.

Phase II – Outpatient Supervised Exercise and Nutritional Counseling

Following discharge from the hospital, patients begin medically supervised exercise to help strengthen the heart, reduce the risk of future cardiac events and improve overall fitness. Our telemetry staff uses electrocardiograms (EKG) to monitor the electrical activity, rate and rhythm of the heart during workouts and makes appropriate adjustments if a cardiac issue arises. We also provide nutrition assessments and counseling on healthy eating behaviors for those with heart disease and associated risk factors, such as diabetes and obesity. The ideal candidates for this program, which meets three times a week for 12 weeks, are patients who have had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery, cardiac valve surgery, cardiac transplant, angioplasty, intracoronary stent placement, heart failure or ongoing stable angina.