Cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita and Manhattan supports recovery after a cardiac event or symptom flare-up.

Cardiac and lung rehabilitation in Kansas

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita and Manhattan supports recovery after a cardiac event or symptom flare-up.

Why choose us

Cardiac and pulmonary care teams in Wichita and Manhattan, Kansas provide rehab specifically for your needs. Our outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program in Wichita is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation(AACVPR).

About cardiopulmonary and pulmonary rehabilitation

The Cardiac and Pulmonary care teams include registered nurses, registered respiratory therapists, and exercise specialists. They work with your doctor to create a cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation plan that is right for you. Our goal is to deliver care to help you quickly recover and get back to the activities you love. During cardiac rehabilitation, we monitor your exercise, provide education and skills for developing healthy living, and ways to cope with stress and other factors. During pulmonary rehabilitation, we monitor your breathing and oxygenation during exercise. We provide education to manage your breathing to improve endurance and reduce incidents of shortness of air, to continue doing the activities you love and cherish.

A doctor's referral is required to participate in the program. Medicare Part B and other private health insurance plans provide a covered benefit for participating in general or intensive cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Ask your heart doctor if you are a candidate for cardiac rehabilitation. Your care plan is personalized for you based on your heart condition and recent heart surgery or procedure, such as:

  • Bypass surgery
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Coronary stent or angioplasty
  • Heart attack
  • Heart pump
  • Heart valve replacement or repair
  • Treatment for angina

Ask your heart doctor if you are a candidate for pulmonary rehabilitation. Candidates for pulmonary rehabilitation are individuals with chronic or stable respiratory disease causing significant functional impairment, such as:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Other chronic lung diseases.

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program

Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation can help improve your recovery. The goals of our cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program include:

  • Controlling weight and improving cholesterol levels
  • Creating healthy lifestyle habits and managing stress
  • Increasing self-confidence
  • Reducing your symptoms and helping to prevent another cardiac event
  • Helping you return to work and activities of daily living
  • Strengthening and conditioning your heart and lungs
  • Helping you understand your medications and how to manage your heart condition

Refer a patient to a cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation specialist

Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our rehabilitation care teams start by listening to fully understand your patient’s needs and develop an individualized care plan.

Frequently asked questions

Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehab following a heart surgery or heart event, such as:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Coronary artery bypass surgery
  • Heart attack
  • Heart or heart-lung transplant
  • Heart valve repair or replacement
  • Treatment for angina (chest pain)

A doctor's referral is required to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended to help you breathe easier and improve your quality of life. People that participate in pulmonary rehab may be living with COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension or another chronic lung disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that may be part of your care plan. Whether you have a heart condition or are recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, your care team can recommend a rehabilitation program to support your recovery. During your cardiac rehabilitation sessions, specialists monitor your heart and help you develop confidence as your heart gets stronger.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs focus on:

  • Creating healthy lifestyle habits and managing stress
  • Helping you understand medications and how to take them
  • Improving cholesterol levels
  • Improving your fitness so you can return to work and activities of daily living
  • Increasing self-confidence
  • Managing body weight
  • Managing chronic heart conditions
  • Preventing future heart attack
  • Reducing symptoms
  • Strengthening and conditioning the heart and lungs

Talk to your doctor about whether cardiac rehabilitation is right for you.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that may be part of your care plan to educate you about your lungs and your disease. During your pulmonary rehabilitation sessions, you will learn to exercise with less shortness of breath. Exercising your lungs and your muscles helps you be more active so you can do the things you enjoy.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive therapy program. Your rehabilitation specialist may provide exercise training, cardiac risk factor modification, education on heart health, nutrition counseling and psychosocial support. Cardiac rehabilitation helps you to recuperate, build confidence and get stronger after you've had surgery or medical treatment for certain types of heart disease.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a structured therapy program designed to support recovery and improve breathing. Your rehabilitation specialist may guide you through monitored exercise, education and long-term maintenance to help you build strength and confidence.

Pulmonary rehabilitation includes three phases:

Phase 1: In-hospital recovery

Phase 2: Monitored outpatient exercise and education, provided through our pulmonary rehabilitation program

Phase 3: Long-term independent maintenance, available through our Wellness Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This phase includes a 30-minute class with unmonitored cardio for a monthly fee.

Cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation are both medically supervised programs. Cardiac rehabilitation may be recommended if you’ve had a heart surgery or heart event, such as heart attack, heart transplant or heart failure. Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended if you have a lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis or asthma.

At Ascension sites of care, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs may include informational sessions, exercise, dietary counseling, breathing training and emotional support. Cardiac rehabilitation care teams monitor blood pressure throughout each session. Pulmonary rehabilitation care teams also monitor oxygen saturation and heart rate. Ask your doctor if you can be connected to cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation care.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a program in which you are supervised by a medical professional. Once you have completed the program, your care team encourages you to continue your fitness activities and lifestyle modifications at home. Staying connected with your doctor and following your at-home plan can help you maintain your overall health and wellness.

Talk to your cardiology care team about whether cardiac rehabilitation is right for you. A referral from your doctor is needed before scheduling your first session.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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