CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs earns three-year certification

CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs has received the 2018 American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Certification, and is the only certified program in the region, according to a news release. The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation recognized the Hot Springs Heart Center, which at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, for its work to improve quality of life and to enhance standards of care.

The three-year certification highlights that CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs offers more than an exercise routine for patients and has developed a multifaceted program to help patients recover from heart surgery and make lifestyle changes to maintain a healthy heart.

“(The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by (the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) and other professional societies,” said Mike Long, nurse manager of the Hot Springs Heart Center. “Each program is reviewed by the (American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) Program Certification Committee and Certification is awarded by the (The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) Board of Directors.”

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to improve the speed of recovery and the quality of life for patients with cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and pulmonary problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory symptoms. The programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.