Ensure Your Heart Attack Patients Have Everything They Need for a Successful Recovery

We now know that achieving the best long-term outcome after heart attack requires ongoing, comprehensive care. That’s why some leading medical centers, including UVA Health, have developed entire programs dedicated to heart attack recovery. The goal: to help patients navigate the many life changes required to manage their heart disease risk factors, prevent future heart problems and improve their health overall.

“UVA has always had advanced heart attack care,” says cardiologist Lawrence W. Gimple, MD, director of clinical cardiology for UVA Heart and Vascular Center. “We provide quality, rapid care from the time a patient enters the ER. If they need advanced therapies, patients don’t have to be transferred no matter what they need because we offer it at UVA all under one roof.

“Since we started it just over five years ago, the Heart Attack Recovery Clinic has allowed us to take heart attack care one step further,” Gimple adds. “We can ensure the patient transfers seamlessly from the hospital to their real lives with no gaps in care.”

Why Refer a Patient to the UVA Heart Attack Recovery Clinic

If your patient is treated at UVA for a heart attack, they
will automatically be scheduled for a follow-up appointment to be seen at the
Heart Attack Recovery Clinic within one week of being discharged from the
hospital.  However, you may refer any
patient with a qualified diagnosis. The benefits for the patient include:

1. More Control

Having a recovery road map based on the patient’s individual
needs takes the guesswork out of what comes next after they leave the hospital.
It empowers them to regain control after a period of helplessness and
uncertainty. Having a plan in hand is a positive first step to recovery.

2. Greater Awareness

Patients have a direct line of communication to a team of care
providers. They will meet with a cardiologist, exercise physiologist, pharmacist,
social worker, nurse specialist and dietitian who will educate them on every
aspect of their recovery, from the physical and emotional challenges to the
logistical hurdles, such as insurance coverage. “Patients have lots of
questions, but often they’re afraid to ask.

In the hospital, patients may not be able to process all the
information they receive, so we are available to patients and families to
answer questions, identify early problems and make sure there’s no confusion,”
says Gimple.

3. Better Medication Management

As you know, managing multiple medications can be
challenging for many patients. It may take more than one discussion with a
provider to get a clear understanding of why and how these new medications prescribed
after a heart attack should be taken, as well as how they may interact with other
medications patients are already taking. As part of a dedicated recovery
program, patients have direct access to providers who can take extra time to help
adapt their medication regimen appropriately. And if cost is an issue, the
heart attack recovery team often can find more affordable options.

4. Supervised Rehabilitation

Patients may have a fresh perspective and good intentions
after surviving a heart attack, but some old habits can be tough to break.
That’s why cardiac rehabilitation is such an important part of heart attack
recovery. While cardiac rehab is optional, all patients are encouraged to make
this a part of their recovery program. There’s no better way for them to regain
strength and build confidence.

Patients typically begin cardiac rehabilitation two weeks
after being discharged from the hospital. This six- to 12-week, supervised
exercise program provides a safe, supportive environment for patients to begin
or return to a fitness regimen.

The staff use heart monitors to keep tabs on a patient’s
heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm and more during exercise to safely
guide them through a variety of aerobic and strength training activities based
on their own individual needs and limitations. With this clinical supervision
comes a sense of security; patients know what levels of activity are safe for
them. Plus, they’re not alone. Cardiac rehab is a group program, and having
others nearby who have had a similar experience is a motivator and a source of
comfort for many patients and their families.

Of course, exercise is just one element of a heart-healthy
lifestyle. So quality cardiac rehab programs offer a variety of services to
help patients make better, healthier choices. This includes nutrition
counseling, smoking cessation, risk factor management, stress relief and more.

“A lot of patients think they don’t need rehab – or that
they can do it on their own -- but once they know everything that the program has
to offer, they get inspired,” says UVA exercise physiologist Rhawny Leach.

To refer a patient to

the UVA Heart Attack Recovery Clinic or UVA Cardiac Rehabilitation, call UVA

Physician Direct at 800.552.3723.