According to the American Heart Association, someone in the United States suffers a heart attack about every 40 seconds. Indeed, nearly half of adults in the U.S. have or are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which ultimately play a role in one of three American deaths. While CVD is not always fatal, the disease and the related acute cardiac events can be debilitating. That’s where cardiac rehabilitation comes in.
Opening this spring, the Penn Medicine Cardiac Rehab at Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) is the Health System’s first downtown cardiac rehab program. Housed in PAH’s recently refurbished, historic Garfield Duncan Building, the program addresses a gap in the Heart & Vascular service line by providing patients with a dedicated space to recover and rebuild healthier lives following cardiac events. Led by medical director William Pentz, MD, the program’s cardiac nursing team and supportive exercise physiologists help patients learn to regain their strength, implement sustainable, heart-healthy lifestyle choices, and manage stress to prevent further heart damage.
“There’s a 45 percent reduction in mortality in patients who participate in rehab vs. those who do not. We also see 31 percent fewer hospital readmissions. Unfortunately, about 20 percent of patients who do not make lifestyle changes will have a second cardiac event within five years,” said program manager Gina Cavalli, MSN.
“CVD is still the number one killer, but it’s largely preventable, but many of the patients we treat for heart disease have never exercised regularly,” Pentz said. “We want to give them the confidence that they can safely develop exercise as a lifelong habit to live healthier, as well as decrease their chances of future hospitalizations.”
In addition to helping patients across Penn Medicine get back on their feet, other institutions can also refer patients to the program, making it a vital resource in a community with a high prevalence of CVD risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. For more information about the Penn Medicine Cardiac Rehab Program, call Cavalli at 215-829-2061.