IU Health Physicians Cardiology

Medical & Surgical Treatment

IU Health Saxony Hospital Heart & Vascular Care provides a range of medical and surgical treatments for heart disease. Consult your physician for additional questions and information about preparing for these procedures.

• Balloon Angioplasty and Stents
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Cardioversion
• Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
• Pacemaker Insertion
• Valve Repair/Replacement

Cardiac Rehabilitation

This structured inpatient and outpatient program helps patients with specific cardiac diseases and/or procedures recover more quickly and completely through monitored or supervised exercise programming and cardiac-specific education classes. There is also a phase of the cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program designed to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of heart disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation benefits patients who have recovered or are recovering from heart or vascular conditions or procedures, such as:

• Cardiovascular disease, angina or heart attack
• Heart surgery: bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, aortic aneurysm repair or replacement, heart transplant
• Interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stents
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm)
• Device implants, such as pacemakers or internal defibrillators (ICDs)
• Other forms of heart or vascular disorders

Patients who regularly participate in the cardiac rehab program can expect to see improvements in:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Body weight
• Functional capacity (activities of daily living)
• Blood sugar control
• Mood/depression

Cardiac rehabilitation strives to:

• Improve your overall heart health
• Enhance your return to a healthy lifestyle
• Increase your understanding about your heart or blood vessel disease and treatment
• Direct you in making the right lifestyle changes to decrease your risk of future cardiovascular problems
• Increase your ability to perform your job and your daily or recreational activities
• Provide you and your family with the support and motivation you need to make important lifestyle changes

Cardiac rehabilitation has a three-phase approach that begins in the hospital and continues throughout recovery:

• Phase I. While in the hospital, our Phase I cardiac rehab staff will direct your early-activity program. We will teach you about the recovery process and tell you how to reduce your future risk of heart problems.
• Phase II. Soon after you leave the hospital, you can enter the outpatient Phase II cardiac rehab program. The hallmarks of phase II are electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, close staff-to-patient interaction and weekly education classes. The length of time you participate in the Phase II program will be determined by your rate of recovery and insurance coverage.
• Phase III. Phase III provides a safe, professionally supervised exercise venue within the hospital; it is appropriate for graduates of Phase II cardiac rehab or individuals seeking to manage risk factors or make a healthy change in their life. Phase III cardiac rehab maintenance programs are not typically covered by insurance; however, we strive to keep our pricing affordable and always cover the cost of your parking when you participate.

For more information about the cardiac rehab program, please call 317.678.2000.