Cardiac Rehabilitation

There’s more to recovering from a cardiac event than just healing your heart. At Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), we work with you to help you regain your strength, your sense of independence, and adopt new approaches to living—giving you control over your life instead of heart disease controlling you.

Your cardiac rehabilitation program is developed and supervised by an SVMC physician who specializes in cardiac care. Working with a team that includes a physical therapist and a registered cardiac care nurse, your multi-phase program can begin before you even leave the hospital and can continue for as long as you need.

Call Cardiac Rehabilitation today to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.

The cardiac rehabilitation process

The cardiac rehabilitation process falls into three phases:

Phase I

The first phase of your recovery begins while you’re still recovering in the hospital with a combination of education and mild exercise. Working with your cardiac care team, you’ll learn how to modify risk factors and develop safe and comfortable exercise goals.

Phase II

Phase II of your recovery can begin as soon as you return home from the hospital, and receive approval from your doctor. 

Phase II takes place at our Cardiac Rehabilitation Center and includes a combination of progressive aerobic exercise, education, and counseling. Working with a physical therapist, you’ll build strength and endurance using various pieces of cardio equipment, all while a registered nurse monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rhythm. Throughout Phase II, your program will be reviewed and tailored to fit your increased capabilities and goals. 

At the end of Phase II, you may continue exercising on your own with a maintenance program developed by your cardiac team. Programs can often be done in a home gym setting or utilizing local fitness or swim centers. If you would like to continue using the equipment and resources in our Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, you may enter Phase III for a fee.

Phase III

Phase III allows you to continue developing your strength and endurance under the supervision of our Cardiac Rehabilitation Center team and enjoy the benefits of improved fitness with other past graduates of the program.

Our team

Contact, hours, and location

Find our address and phone number information in the "Contact us" section at the top of this page.

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