Cardiac Rehabilitation Section

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important step in your recovery from heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation ensures that you exercise safely, without placing excessive stress on your heart.

If you experienced any type of cardiac event, like a heart attack or heart surgery, then your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation. MedStar Washington Hospital Center's Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness programs are an excellent choice. Our programs are monitored by exercise physiologists, physical therapists and a physician. Meet our cardiac rehabilitation staff.

Cardiac rehabilitation in Washington, D.C.

Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation if you experienced a cardiac event, including:

• Heart attack in the previous 12 months
• Bypass surgery (CABG)
• Angioplasty or coronary stenting
• Heart or lung transplant
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Stable angina (chest pain)

Cardiac rehabilitation: How the program works

The Cardiac Rehabilitation program consists of one hour of exercise training three times per week. During your sessions, you will learn about your heart condition, your dietary needs and stress reduction.

The exact number of supervised sessions depends on your individual needs and your insurance coverage; you may continue for up to 36 visits. Learn more about what to expect during the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, including how to get started.

Phase II and Phase III Patients

You may hear the terms Phase II or Phase III patients. These are medical terms your doctors use to stage your recovery after you experience a cardiac event, like a heart attack.

• Phase II patients recently had a cardiac event or heart surgery.
• Phase III patients completed phase II rehabilitation, but may need further supervision.

Learn more about continuing supervised exercise activities in our Wellness Program.

Contact Us

For more information, please call 202-877-WELL (9355) or e-mail us at cardiac.rehab@medstar.net.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness programs are located at the Trinity Center on the campus of Trinity University. The Center is about a half mile east of the Hospital Center and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.