Heart Vascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Heart & Vascular Institute
1350 Walton Way

From Walton Way heading southeast: Turn right onto St. Sebastian Way and continue to stop sign. Continue straight, and the H&VI is on the left.
From Walton Way heading northwest: Turn left onto St. Sebastian Way and continue to stop sign. Continue straight, and the H&VI is on the left.
From 13th Street: Cross Walton Way and follow RA Dent Boulevard. Turn right on St. Sebastian Way, and the H&VI is on the right.
View a map of the main campus and the H&VI.

This expansive facility with the Heart & Vascular Institute is a one of a kind facility, offering a variety of equipment and expertise to help patients dealing with lung and heart disease. Using education and exercise, patients diagnosed with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases learn to cope with their limitations, gain strength and change their lifestyles. Through different phases of their rehabilitation, patients exercise on various cardiovascular and weightlifting equipment at levels appropriate for their conditions. Their progress is monitored and documented by a state of the art cardiac monitoring system and reports transferred to their electronic medical record daily. Trained professionals guide patients so they can exercise without concern for their health or safety.

The facility includes a gym with walking track, cardiovascular and weight equipment, exam rooms and a classroom for education. Free-standing oxygen connections are located throughout the facility to allow patients who require a constant oxygen source freedom from having to use an oxygen tank.

The facility also is the region's first program to receive national accreditation by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Education

The public is welcome to attend Piedmont Augusta's Heart & Vascular Institute free education classes for cardiovascular rehabilitation. You can find a schedule of these classes here.

Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac Rehab is a comprehensive three-phase program that offers education and rehabilitation to patients who recently suffered cardiac injury or who are at risk for heart disease. Using education and exercise, patients learn how to cope with limitations, change their lifestyles to reduce the risk of further cardiac problems and live as full and enjoyable a life as possible. Physician referral is required. 

Phase I: This phase begins during hospitalization when nurses and dietitians meet with patients and families to help them understand cardiac disease and how to adjust lifestyles to overcome it.

Phase II: The second phase takes place in Cardiopulmonary Rehab, where the patient exercises on equipment such as a treadmill, stationary bicycle, rower or a Nustep monitored via telemetry. The program is conducted three days a week and most insurance companies cover 36 sessions. Their progress is documented and sent to the physician at appropriate intervals.

Pulmonary Rehab and Smoking Cessation 

Nothing can be more frightening than not being able to catch your breath – to be so short of breath you fear the next breath may not come. Diseases such as COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis have a tremendous impact on your lifestyle. Shortness of breath can begin to limit daily activities. Sometimes just walking up stairs, showering or shopping become difficult tasks. You may need to learn to adjust your daily activities, from eating healthier and exercising routinely to learning how to breathe easier.

Through a supportive medical and allied health staff, Piedmont Augusta’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation team has developed programs to help you manage your lung disease through health promotion, education and follow-up support.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Phase I: Adult inpatients are instructed after discharge in survival skills for lung disease, including anatomy, lung disease, medications, and breathing techniques These free education classes are available through Second Wind, held on the first Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. For more information call 706-774-5864.

Phase II: This program is specifically designed for people who suffer from a chronic respiratory disease such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis and COPD and who are limited by their shortness of breath. The six-week program includes education and exercise classes to help patients achieve the highest level of independence and improve their sense of well-being.

Smoking Cessation Programs

Smoking Cessation classes are held regularly to help patients who are interested in quitting smoking. The program helps with identifying triggers and patterns, establishing coping strategies and assessing the need for aids such as the Nicotine Patch, Zyban or Chantix. Classes are free and held every Wednesday for four consecutive Wednesdays each month.

For more information on Pulmonary Rehab or Tobacco Cessation, call 706-774-5864.