Heart Disease claims over 500,000 lives in the United States annually. An additional 1,500,000 Americans suffer from heart attacks. Cardiac Rehabilitation can help these victims make changes in exercise, diet, smoking and stress to prevent or decrease the severity of future cardiac events.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Here at Cardiofit Rehab Center, we believe the purpose of our program is to improve overall quality of life and introduce cardiac patients to changes in lifestyle to improve their chances of surviving or preventing future cardiac events. Our qualified professional staff fulfills this purpose by the following interventions:

• Risk Factor Modification
• Recognizing and treating signs and symptoms of heart disease
• Beginning patients on a safe, effective and appropriate for health and age exercise program
• Helping make exercise and healthy eating lifetime habits
• Preparing patients for return to work and/or return to normal home activities

 

Physician Connection

The Cardiac Rehab team also provides an important link between patient and physician during recovery from a cardiac event:

• Function as an interactive communicator between patient and physician
• Provide physician with essential medical evaluations during patients' recovery
• Serve as an educational resource for patient on heart disease and prevention

 

Phases of Cardiac Rehab:

Phase II: Focuses on patients who, within the past 12 months, have suffered a Heart Attack, Heart Surgery or Chest pain. It is a monitored program for 12 weeks meeting 3 times a week. Emphasis is on aerobic activity with appropriate patients participating in resistance exercises and flexibility. Educational sessions focus on lifestyle changes and risk factor modification.

PHASE II (Outpatient)

Rehab Class Schedule
Monday-Wednesday-Friday
8:00, 9:00, 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30

 

Phase III: Maintenance program offered to all Phase II graduates or non-qualifying Phase II patients. Self-directed, nonmonitored class. Patients attend 2 times a week for unlimited time and are also encouraged to supplement with a home exercise program.

PHASE III (Maintenance)

Rehab Class Schedule
Tuesday and Thursday
7-12 p.m.

CARDIOFIT REHAB CENTER
Park Side Medical Center
680 Park Avenue West
Mansfield, Ohio 44906
(419)524-8151
1-800-686-3966 Coordinator: Michael Bichsel, M.A.
Medical Director: James P. Bacon, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Electrophysiology is a method of measuring the complex electrical activity of the heart through electrode catheters in the heart using various mapping and diagnostic tools.  Arrthymias can be treated with interventions such as defibrillators, pacemakers, re-synchronization therapy and catheter ablations.

The pumping of the heart muscle generates a pulse, or heartbeat. The normal pattern of muscle contraction begins in the upper chambers the (atria), which pump blood into the lower chambers or the ventricles. The ventricles pump blood to the body and lungs. This coordinated action occurs because the heart is "wired" to send electrical signals that tell the chambers of the heart when to contract.

You may not be aware of your heartbeat most of the time. If you run up and down a flight of stairs, you may notice the pulse in your neck or chest becomes strong and rapid. Your heartbeat is able to speed up and slow down because it is wired with electrical tissue, similar to the wires that connect a stereo.

There are thousands of substances that have the potential to affect the heart's electrical system and alter its ability to pump blood through the body.  Caffeine is the most common substance associated with heart arrhythmias.  Some people feel palpitations when they eat chocolate or drink coffee, tea or red wine. Tobacco causes more heart and blood vessel disease, stroke and heart-related deaths than all illegal drugs combined.

Electrophysiology services:

• Comprehensive diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias

• Pacemaker and internal defibrillator implantation

• Electrophysiologic testing and radiofrequency ablation

• Cardiac ablations

• Cardioversions

• Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator clinic, including transtelephonic monitoring

• Ambulatory arrhythmia monitoring

• Tilt testing

Current Studies

The Mid-Ohio Heart Research Foundation was established in 2001 with the intent of providing new and innovative treatment options to our community.  Formed specifically for the purpose of evaluating new ways to diagnose and treat heart disease, our physicians actively participate as "Principal Investigators" in many important clinical studies. "Quality is at the Heart of Everything we do" refers not only to our direct clinical care, but to the cutting edge research through the Mid-Ohio Heart Research Foundation. We have participated in more than 30 different studies, including the highly publicized "Drano for the heart" study.

Types of Studies

Clinical studies are categorized in "phases" which indicates how much testing has been completed.  A phase 1 or 2 represents an early investigational study whereas a phase 4 usually represents a market or confirmatory study.  Although the Foundation is involved with studies at all levels, a large majority of these studies are early phase investigational.  Our involvement in these early studies supports our belief in participating in important research that ultimately allows us to provide high quality care to our patients. 

Safety to our Patients

To protect the safety of our patients, several levels of protection are put in place for each clinical study.  First, approval must be obtained from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) by the clinical study sponsor.  The sponsor is often a pharmaceutical or medical equipment company.  The FDA remains involved throughout the process.  Second, our physicians review the clinical requirements of the study to determine the potential benefits to patients.  Third, by law, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews each proposed clinical study, and maintains oversight throughout the study.  The IRB is comprised of physicians, administrators and community lay persons, and functions solely to protect the safety of the patients enrolled in the clinical study.  Most of our clinical studies are governed by the local IRB coordinated by MedCentral Health System.  The sponsor requires frequent reports and updates on the clinical study status and patient outcomes.  The FDA, sponsor, IRB or the Foundation has the authority and will immediately discontinue a clinical study at any time if patient safety is a concern.  Each patient who participates in a study must review and sign an "Informed Consent" document that has all of the study information and potential risks.

Current Clinical Studies

Mid-Ohio Heart Research Foundation is currently involved in over 15 clinical studies.  Studies that are open to enrollment include patients with symptoms of chest pain, heart attack, cholesterol management, and heart failure.  We also have studies for patients undergoing stress tests, coronary stent placements and pacemaker and defibrillator device implants.

The Mid-Ohio Heart Research Foundation continuously receives information on the latest investigational drugs and devices, and is pleased to be able to offer opportunities for patient involvement to our community.  Please realize that not all patients will qualify for studies due to certain clinical restrictions associated with each study.  Please contact us if you are interested in possible participation in a clinical study, or if you would like to learn more about the current investigations being conducted by the Mid-Ohio Heart Research Foundation.