Rumford Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program has received new three-year certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. The certification is recognition of the hospital’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients; Rumford’s 20-year-old program helps heart patients recover through exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.
The AACVPR certification is a peer-review, outcomes-based process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. Certified programs are leaders in the cardiovascular field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proved track records of high-quality patient care.
“This honor confirms that we’ve achieved what we strive for—the best patient-centered care,” said Becky Hall, Rumford Hospital’s Director of Nursing. “Our cardiac rehab team’s hard work and dedication to their patients is evident every day.”
The program in Rumford, with three regular staff members, meets three days a week. In 2018, the program saw 1,109 visits and “graduated” 28 patients. To date in 2019, the program has had 705 visits and graduated 17 patients. Graduates typically complete 26 sessions of exercise and education, and set individualized goals for improved help. Courses can include tobacco cessation or relapse intervention information, blood-pressure control and screening for depression.
