Heart Path at Mission - A Before and After Program
Heart Path® is a medically supervised, state and nationally certified cardiac rehabilitation program. The program provides services in a safe, effective way to help participants feel better faster, get stronger, reduce stress, improve the quality of life and reduce risks of future heart problems. It is individually tailored, allowing patients to take a leading role in their own healthcare, including a detailed look at what their important numbers like blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and body mass index are and should be.
Mission's Heart Path has two tracks. While still in the hospital, patients and their families learn how to reduce, eliminate or deal with their heart disease risk factors. They learn appropriate home activities, receive information on how to prepare for their return home after hospitalization, and learn about the importance of a lifelong commitment to changing behaviors.
Once released from the hospital, patients and their spouses may participate in Outpatient Heart Path with a referral from their doctor. Upon completion of this 12-week program, they may choose to attend the Heart Path Maintenance Program, join a local gym or exercise at home. In Outpatient Heart Path, patients receive personal assessments to help develop their care plan, like exercise therapy, nutritional counseling, vocational and avocational counseling, and psychosocial counseling addressing issues such as depression, anger and quality of life. Patients who do not live close to Mission are referred to heart programs closer to their homes.
"We believe it's really important for people to be proactive with their healthcare, and one way to do that is to make sure they know their numbers BEFORE an event takes place," says Mary Richard, director of Heart Path and Pulmonary Rehab at Mission Hospitals. "Think about how much money and how many lives could be saved if folks only knew their numbers by getting screened early."
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services at Heart Path® helps patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease (CPD) return to a higher level of function and relieve symptoms associated with the disease. Services are individually designed for people with:
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Cystic fibrosis
- Emphysema who have had lung volume reduction surgery
Mission also offers services to individuals preparing for, or returning from, lung transplantation. Team members include a pulmonologist, physical and respiratory therapists, registered nurses, a dietitian, a psychologist and exercise specialists.
Each patient receives a personal care program based on his or her medical condition.The program may include patient, family and community resource education, nutritional and psychosocial counseling, an exercise program, training in breathing techniques and bronchial hygiene, and smoking cessation.
A physician must refer patients into this program. While most insurance companies cover costs for these services, you should check with your insurance provider first.
Learn more about Heart Path.
