Research studies show patients who complete cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack, serious cardiovascular illness or cardiac surgery reduce by half their risk of dying within five years. But nationally, only 18-30% of eligible patients complete the course.

With 40-50%, St. Luke’s far exceeds the average. Still, many more patients could benefit from the program, says William Merkert, MS, Director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, St. Luke’s University Network.

Merkert encourages anyone who is medically eligible to receive cardiac rehabilitation to visit a St. Luke’s facility and talk with the staff. He’s confident they will enroll in the program and miss it when they’ve completed the course. The comprehensive lifestyle modification program helps patients resume unrestricted activity and reduce their risk of future problems. Cardiac rehabilitation is not only lifesaving but life-changing.

“Many years ago, a patient told me that his doctor saved his life, but you gave me my life back,” Merkert said. “That’s something I’ve never forgotten.”

Patients who benefit from cardiac rehabilitation are those who have recently suffered a heart attack or have congestive heart failure, stable angina or cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. But, in Merkert’s experience, the most motivated patients are those who have heart surgery.

Patients view heart surgery as a life-changing event. But today, that’s not always true of heart attack patients.

The St. Luke’s staff gets patients to the cath lab (catheterization laboratory) in minutes to open the blocked artery and restore blood flow.

Consequently, patients with minor or moderate heart attacks often experience little pain physically or emotionally.

“We want them to get that great care, but we also want them to understand the significance of what they’ve experienced,” he said. “I’ve had patients tell me ‘they gave me two stents, and I’m going back to work next week. I don’t need cardiac rehab.’ But the program would benefit them by addressing what caused the heart attack and preventing another, more severe one, in the future.

“We don’t want to see them back here in five years.”

Most cardiac rehabilitation patients attend sessions two to three times a week for 12-18 weeks, totaling 36 visits.

The St. Luke’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team consists of registered nurses with backgrounds in cardiovascular nursing, exercise physiologists, respiratory therapists and physical therapists.

Cardiac rehabilitation services include:

• Counseling and cardiac risk factor evaluation

• Post-surgery consultation services

• Health and wellness education and information

• Educational classes on exercise, smoking cessation and stress management

• State-of-the-art health club exercise equipment

• Medically supervised, goal-oriented exercise programs

“When you come to cardiac rehab, your doctor has already treated you,” he said. “We’re looking at a well person getting healthier. Our goal is to focus on what you need and want to do and how we can get you back to a healthier lifestyle.”

The cardiac rehabilitation staff works together for the benefit of the patient. While providing exceptional care, they also have fun, creating a blissful environment for patients.

In fact, Merkert never feels like he’s going to work because he has developed so many wonderful relationships with staff and patients. One such patient, an elderly man, stopped by one day to discuss “life stuff.”

Even though he was busy, Merkert took time to talk with him, refraining from looking at his watch. A few weeks later, he learned the man had died.

“I went to his viewing and introduced myself to his daughter,” Merkert said. “Even though her father had just died, she just lit up, saying her father talked about me all the time.” For the past 34 years, Merkert has been motivated by the lives he and his staff have touched - people who are alive and well.

“When patients first come to cardiac rehab, they are often sad and don’t feel well,” he said. “But I know that when they leave, they are going to feel confident, and so much better both physically and emotionally. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of helping them get there. Since I started at St. Luke’s when I was 22 years old, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. St. Luke’s has become an extension of me.”