Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

If you're coming back from a . . .

Or if you have had . . .

Corning Hospital's Change of Heart programs are designed to enhance your quality of life. Your goals are our goals. We help you to increase and maintain your exercise tolerance, and teach you and your family how to reduce stress and modify your risk factors.

Change of Heart programs promote psychological well-being by reducing your anxiety, and helping you improve your self-esteem and self-confidence. Our group setting offers each member companionship and encouragement.

What is change of heart, and how does it work?

Phase I

Phase I cardiac rehabilitation at Corning Hospital begins soon after you have been diagnosed with heart disease. This phase is conducted while you are an inpatient at our hospital.

Phase II

Change of Heart - Phase II cardiac rehabilitation - begins after you leave the hospital or when your physician feels that you are ready to begin an individualized cardiac rehabilitation program. This phase continues for twelve weeks with constant nursing supervision. It helps you adjust to activities of daily living and return to normal daily routines.

During Phase II, you will meet three times per week for 1 1/2 hours at Corning Hospital's Rehabilitation Center with other Change of Heart members . Our members warm up together and then exercise according to individualized exercise prescriptions. Exercise equipment includes: Aerodyne bikes and rowing machine, designed for upper and lower body training, a treadmill for walking, stairs for stair climbing, wall pulleys for increased upper body range of motion, and hand weights. Exercise periods end with a cool down session.

All Phase II participants are monitored with telemetry equipment consisting of chest electrodes and a small unit which transmits heart rate and rhythm to a monitor screen. This service is provided to ensure maximum heart rate is not exceeded during exercise and to promote the highest level of safety.

The Phase II program is supervised by a cardiologist and constantly monitored and supervised by critical care nurses certified in advanced cardiac life support by the American Heart Association. Life saving equipment is kept on hand for emergencies.

Phase III

If it has been at least a year since your heart attack, open heart surgery or angioplasty . . .

If you're a graduate of Corning Hospital's Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Program . . .

If you have any of these risk factors . . .

Corning Hospital's CHANGE OF HEART Phase III program is meant for you. We'll help you to maintain and increase your exercise tolerance and learn a healthier life-style in a safe, medically supervised exercise setting.

Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation exercise programs are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. You may also take part in educational programs offered Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 - 9:00 A.M. and 1:30 - 2:00 P.M. All sessions are held in Corning Hospital's new Rehabilitation Center.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Benefits

Change of Heart programs are specially designed to improve your circulation, reduce your risk factors and lead you to a more productive and healthy life.

Offered on an out-patient basis, Change of Heart's safe, supervised exercise programs, nutrition counseling and health education discussions will speed your recovery and improve your quality of life.

Special Features

Each Change of Heart member meets individually with a cardiac rehab nurse for a complete interview. At this meeting we will discuss how to best meet your needs and accomplish your goals. Your goals are our goals. Our registered dietitians will also assist you with your nutritional needs.

At the end of each exercise session, thirty minute discussion groups are held for participants and their families. Topics include: the benefits of exercise, angina, anatomy and physiology of the heart, risk factor modification, pharmacology, spiritual help and stress management. We also offer CPR certification classes.

How Do I Join?

Your primary physician should refer you to Phase I and II of our program. Phase III is available with or without a physician referral. An accompanying flier with the Change of Heart Phase III fee schedule and information on money saving coupon packages is available. There is currently no insurance coverage for Phase III cardiac rehabilitation programs. For more information on Corning Hospital's Change of Heart Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs, please call: (607)-937-7423 or (607)-937-7251.

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