Cardiac rehabilitation in a family practice setting.
In January 1978, a cardiac rehabilitation program was begun at Fort Ord, California. The program is unique in being designed and run by family physicians. In the Medical Intensive Care Unit, the patient with a myocardial infarction is started on a graduated exercise program and a structured course concerning heart disease. Eight weeks after the infarction, the patient is asked to join an out-patient exercise class meeting three times a week. The patient's progress is followed by serial treadmill and blood tests. After training for six months, the patients have shown an increase in exercise tolerance and a decrease in incidence of readmission for cardiac disease. Most importantly, the patients have become actively involved in their own treatment.
D000359:Aftercare; D002140:California; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers