Cardiac rehabilitation
Experiencing a heart issue can catch you off guard. It's natural to feel overwhelmed as you navigate life after leaving the hospital. Our cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to support you in regaining control and moving toward a healthier heart future after surviving a heart attack or undergoing a life-saving procedure like heart surgery.
What is cardiac rehab?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that offers support, education and coaching to get you on the right track after a heart procedure. You'll learn how to manage your heart problem while you increase your energy and improve your quality of life.
Using a team approach, you’ll work with registered nurses and exercise physiologists. Your exercise training will start at a level that you can handle, which may include walking and seated exercises.
Benefits of cardiac rehab
Studies show that participating in cardiac rehab programs can:
- Control symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath
- Improve your stamina and strength, getting you back to work and your usual activities
- Reduce hospitalizations for heart-related conditions
- Lower your risk of having another heart attack
- Improve your health so you develop fewer heart disease risk factors
- Reduce depression, anger and anxiety
You must meet qualifying criteria to be eligible for this physician-ordered program.
What diagnosis qualifies for cardiac rehab?
Our cardiac rehabilitation program is for anyone who is recovering from a heart problem that required surgery or medical care. Cardiac diagnosis may include:
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart transplant
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Percutaneous coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting
- Coronary artery disease and bypass surgery
- Stable angina pectoris
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Cardiac catheterization
When should cardiac rehab begin?
Cardiac rehabilitation can start during your hospital stay but typically continues as outpatient therapy once you're back home.
Getting started with cardiac rehab
This phase starts while you’re still in the hospital, usually while you’re recovering from heart surgery or another treatment.
Our trained cardiac rehabilitation professionals will start with gentle exercises to improve your strength, even while you’re still in bed. We’ll also discuss risk factors about your heart condition and lifestyle changes.
Depending on your diagnosis, insurance and Medicare usually covers this portion of rehabilitation.
You’ll begin this phase one to four weeks after you get home from the hospital. Your doctor will give you a referral to participate in the program.
The outpatient program includes supervised exercise at an Aurora hospital or clinic. Typically, you’ll attend three cardiac rehabilitation sessions per week for up to 36 sessions.
We provide:
- Close monitoring: As you exercise, we’ll regularly monitor your heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure.
- Variety of movement: You’ll use various pieces of exercise equipment, such as a treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical machine.
- Education: We offer both group and individual counseling sessions aimed at reducing your risk of future heart problems. Education topics may include:
- Heart healthy nutrition
- Weight management
- Fall prevention strategies
- Cardiac medications
- Stress management and relaxation
- Safe exercise guidelines
- Cardiovascular risk factor management
- Health coaching: Our nurses, exercise physiologists and dieticians will teach you how to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
- Exercising regularly
- Following a heart-healthy diet
- Quitting smoking
- Managing your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol
During this phase, we offer support to help you maintain the good habits you developed in the program. It’s always best to check if additional supervised classes and exercise sessions are covered by your insurance.
Placing your trust in our cardiac rehab team
We understand it can be difficult to start cardiac rehabilitation when you’re still feeling unwell or anxious about your recent heart attack, heart surgery or other condition. But our supportive rehab team – and your fellow program participants – can make recovery easier and even pleasant.
When you choose us for cardiac rehab, you can expect:
- Convenient locations: With programs located throughout the state, you can receive care close to home.
- Caring professionals: A medical director leads each of our cardiac rehab programs. As you recover, compassionate nurses and exercise physiologists also support you. For issues related to anxiety or depression, we can refer you to a health psychologist.
- On-staff dieticians: Many of our programs include full-time, heart-focused dieticians who provide nutrition counseling and customized food plans.
Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs
We offer three programs for heart, lung and chest conditions.
Peripheral artery disease rehab
If you have peripheral artery disease (PAD), our program can assist you in establishing a regular walking routine and reducing the risk of future complications.
Pulmonary rehab
Our rehabilitation program for lung and respiratory conditions helps you get back to your daily routine through exercise and healthy lifestyle changes.
Cardiac rehab
Our comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to help you manage your heart condition, boost your energy and enhance your quality of life.
Find a cardiac rehab location near you
Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area
3003 University Dr.
Marinette, WI 54143
715-735-4200 Ext.7150
Aurora BayCare Medical Center
2845 Greenbrier Rd., Suite 210
Green Bay, WI 54311
920-288-4713
Aurora Health Center – Menomonee Falls
N84W16889 Menomonee Ave.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
262-532-1590
Aurora Health Center – West Bend
1100 Gateway Ct.
West Bend, WI 53095
262-670-7233
Aurora Medical Center – Burlington
252 McHenry St.
Burlington, WI 53105
262-767-6777
Aurora Medical Center – Grafton
975 Port Washington Rd.
Grafton, WI 53024
262-329-3300
Aurora Health Center – Hartford
1032 E. Sumner St.
Hartford, WI 53027
262-670-7233
Aurora Medical Center – Kenosha
10400 75th St.
Kenosha, WI 53142
262-948-5600
Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County
5000 Memorial Dr.
Two Rivers, WI 54241
920-794-5189
Aurora Medical Center – Mount Pleasant
13250 Washington Ave.
Mount Pleasant, WI 53177
262-799-8330
Aurora Medical Center – Oshkosh
855 N. Westhaven Dr.
Oshkosh, WI 54904
920-456-1579
Aurora Medical Center – Sheboygan County
3400 Union Ave., 3rd floor
Sheboygan, WI 53081
920-828-2271
Aurora Medical Center – Summit
36500 Aurora Dr., Suite 320
Summit, WI 53066
262-434-1650
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
2424 S. 90th St., Suite 300
West Allis, WI 53227
414-328-7000
Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center
2900 W. Oklahoma Ave., 4th floor
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-646-6039
Get care
We help you live well. And we’re here for you in person and online.