Franciscan St. Anthony Health a Leader in Cardio and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

rot6Franciscan St Anthony Health - Crown Point is proud to announce certification of its cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

The hospital was recognized for its commitment to improving quality of life by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (such as heart attacks and coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory symptoms,) recover faster and improve their quality of life. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

The hospital’s cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in an application process that required extensive documentation of its practices.

The association certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by it and other professional societies.

Each program is reviewed by the association’s program certification committee and certification is awarded by its Board of Directors.

Franciscan St. Anthony Health charge nurse Kathleen Godbey, a cardiac rehab specialist, said the hospital has noted a great improvement in patients who participate in the cardiac rehabilitation program.

“They recover from their cardiac event much quicker than patients that don’t attend. The staff encourages our patients by teaching them about their event, as well as lifestyle modifications needed to lead a heart healthy life,” she added.

Julie Fritz, a pulmonary rehab specialist, said the program sees patients who have multiple types of lung diseases, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and pre- and post-lung transplant, to name a few.

“Our patients are able to lead a better lifestyle, with less shortness of breath and better activity levels. We also see a reduction in hospital admissions of our COPD patients,” she added.

The cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program staffs consist of registered nurses, registered respiratory therapists and an exercise physiologist, all of whom have more than 25 years’ experience in the field.

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. Program certification is valid for three years.