Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a program at West Jefferson Medical Center dedicated to care for adult patients who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the department is to limit and to reduce the physiologic and psychological effects of cardiovascular disease. Nurses and specialists in Cardiac Rehab work to improve patients’ cardiovascular fitness, assist the patient and family to gain a better understanding of cardiovascular diseases and to assist in risk factor modification.

The department thrives with strong physician support and referrals and the active participation of patients and their loved ones. The Medical Director for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is E. Kenneth Kerut, M.D. The staff consists of nurses Dawn Delaune, Paulette Dufrene, Debbie Howard, and Anne Meerman, and clinical exercise physiologist Stacy Richoux.

“Education is the ‘heart’ of this department,” said Meerman. “Phase I is targeted to the cardiac patient in the hospital. With the open heart patient, we often see them for pre-op education, to answer their questions and to help alleviate their fears. For other patients, our interaction begins at the bedside, which includes range of motion exercises one day post-op. Education includes anatomy, risk factor modification, dietary and discharge instructions and a guide for home exercise until they are able to enter our outpatient program.”

Phases II and III are the outpatient components of the cardiac rehabilitation program. “The supervised exercise program is important, but the continuing education is really the most significant aspect. We work with each patient, encouraging them to make healthy lifestyle changes…and hopefully prevent future heart-related problems,” said Meerman.

To learn more about our program, patients and families can call 349-6180.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation program at West Jefferson Medical Center has biweekly sessions designated for helping people with chronic pulmonary disease in a 12 week program, located in the Health Center. With a team of health care professionals, the program provides the participants and the family with information and support to meet the day-to-day challenges of living with a chronic lung disorder, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Our program offers supervised exercised training, breathing education, smoking cessation, nutritional counseling, and psychosocial support. Each participant is provided with a personalized and comprehensive approach to manage and cope with a chronic pulmonary disease.