About Us
Welcome to the Cardiac/Heart Rehabilitation Programme.
The AMNCH Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme aims to provide our patients with the highest quality cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention service in partnership with the Consultant Cardiologists, multidisciplinary team members, patients and their families.
The focus of our CR programme is to assist the patient in his/her recovery after a cardiac event, improve self-confidence and enhance the wellbeing of the entire family unit.
Cardiac rehabilitation staff endeavours to promote through education and support the adaptation by patients of a healthy heart lifestyle. We work as a multidisciplinary team to maximise the care provided.
We aim to promote learning and provide a supportive environment for all staff, respecting each other’s needs, abilities and potential.
Location
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Department is located on the ground floor. Access to the department is via the first right turn from the entrance hall (opposite the shop) in the direction of the Out-patients department. Access is also available from the main hospital street. The Cardiac Rehabilitation gymnasium has the following equipment: a treadmill, rowing machine, stepper, small trampoline and three exercise bicycles (aerobic, resistant and recumbent). We also have a variety of hand weights, steps and bands. Telemetry monitoring is available to monitor heart rate and rhythm.
Definition of Cardiac Rehabilitation
The US Public Health Service defines CR as “Cardiac rehabilitation services are comprehensive, long term programmes involving medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, cardiac risk factor modification, education and counselling. Designed to limit the physiological and psychological effect of cardiac illness, reduce the risk of sudden death or re-infarction, control cardiac symptoms, stabilise or reverse the atherosclerotic process and enhance the psychological and vocational status of the individual patient.”
Another definition from Scotland states: “Cardiac rehabilitation is the process by which patients with cardiac disease, in partnership with a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, are encouraged and supported to achieve and maintain optimal physical and psychosocial health” (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Guideline 57 2002).
Other Services Offered in Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for patients & families, the first such initiative in the Republic of Ireland.
- Relaxation CD available for purchase from the CR department.
- Patient information video/DVD entitled “A Brighter Tomorrow with Cardiac Rehabilitation”
Contact
Medical Director: Dr Vincent Maher
Cardiac Rehabilitation Co-ordinators: Ms Noleen Fallon and Ms Caroline Finn
Tel: (01) 414 3097/2990
Fax: (01) 414 3052
Development of CR
The cardiac rehabilitation programme began in the mid 1980s in The Adelaide Hospital in Peter Street by S/N Leslie Taylor and Prof. Ian Graham. By 1985 it had developed into a multidisciplinary, comprehensive service in both the Adelaide Hospital and incorporated the Meath Hospital in Heytesbury Street in 1992. This was achieved under the direction of Prof. Ian Graham and leadership of Ms. Joan Love & Ms. Shirley Ingram (Cardiology Nurse Specialists (CNS), CNM2).
The two hospitals amalgamated in 1998 to form The Adelaide and Meath Hospital Incorporating the National Children’s’ Hospital, Dublin, which is located in Tallaght, southwest Dublin. The service benefited from the Cardiovascular Strategy (Building Healthier Hearts) 1999 and has developed to become a comprehensive, multidisciplinary programme incorporating the skills of a wide range of health professionals. The service is directed by Dr Vincent Maher, Consultant Cardiologist and managed by Ms Noeleen Fallon (CNS, CNM2) and Ms Caroline Finn, Cardiac Rehabilitation Co-ordinators (Acting CNM2).
Phases of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Phase 1
Phase 1 is the in-hospital phase. During this phase the cardiac rehabilitation nurses and relevant multi-disciplinary team members, where appropriate, visit the cardiac patients in the coronary care unit and on the medical wards. The purposes of these visits are to:
- Give support and information to the patients and their families about heart disease.
- Assist patients to identify their personal risk factors for heart disease and discuss ways to change these individual risk factors.
- Gain support from family members to help their spouse/siblings to maintain the necessary lifestyle changes.
- Give the patients clear guidelines as to the activities they can do after discharge and encourage them to walk daily
Phase II
During this post discharge period the aim of cardiac rehabilitation is to reinforce risk factor modification, provide education to the patient and his/her family and promote continuing adherence to life style recommendations.
Options available:
- Provision of educational session where exercise is prescribed by the physiotherapist and plans for the patient to attend Phase III consolidated.
- Telephone follow up
Phase III
Phase III of Cardiac Rehabilitation is an eight or ten week programme consisting of exercise and educational classes. The exercise classes occur two/three times a week for one hour. The exercise class includes a warm–up, aerobic exercise and a cool down phase. The educational sessions are given by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Multidisciplinary Team
The Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) multidisciplinary team consists of:
- Medical Director
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Co-ordinators
- Staff Nurses
- CCU Staff
- Dietician
- Physiotherapist
- Social Worker
- Psychologist.
The (MDT) is very important in the overall context of cardiac rehaiblitaiton. Each person is an expert in their field and offerd a wide variety of services to the patients attending cardiac rehabilitation.
Education and Research
Education
Cardiac Rehabilitation has always been a leader in education not only for patients but for staff.
The first ever Masters programme in Ireland in cardiac rehabilitation began with Trinity College and the Adelaide & Meath Hospital in 2002.
Research
The cardiac rehabilitation department has produced research to improve the way in which we deliver care to the patient with heart disease. The following are some of the articles that have been written.
- “Cardiac Rehabilitation- The development of a programme from existing resources, The Adelaide/Meath Experience”. Nursing Review Autumn 1996; Vol. 15 No. 1: 15-18
- “Hospital Heart Health” Cardiovascular risk factors in hospital personnel”. Nursing Review Winter 1996/97; Vol. 15 No. 2: 55-58
- “Nursing patients through rehabilitation” The world of Irish Nursing 1997; Vol. 5 No. 9: 18-19
- “Cardiac patients’ perceived education and use of sub-lingual Glyceryl Trinitrate prior to commencement of out-patient Cardiac Rehabilitation.” Coronary Health Care 1999 Vol. 3 No.3: 128-135
- “Elderly Heart Patients can be enrolled in Standard Rehabilitation Programmes”. An Bord Altranais News 1999 Vol. 11 No. 4:3-5
- Diabetes and Heart Disease from a Nursing Perspective World of Irish Nursing Dec 2001 Vol 9 (10) 20-22 World of Irish Nursing Jan 2002 Vol 10 (1) 36-37
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression in Cardiac Rehabilitation National Council for the Professional Development of nursing and midwifery newsletter summer 2003 Issue 10 12 European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing April 03 Volume 3 Number 1
- Do Cardiac Rehabilitation staff detect, address and arrest potential problems and complications for cardiac patients? European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Volume 3 Number 1 April 04 European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation May 2004 Vol 11 Supp 1 010
- Taking care of body & mind. World of Irish Nursing June 2005
- Role of Cardiac Rehabilitation. S Ingram & N Fallon World of Irish Nursing March 2006
- Blood Pressure Management N. Fallon World of Irish Nursing April 2006 Vol 14 (4) 35-36
- Current thinking on Sudden Death. World of Irish Nursing May 2006
- Lipid management. S Ingram & N Fallon World of Irish Nursing June 2006
- Risk Factors in Cardiac Rehab patients: Metabolic Syndrome revealed European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Volume 4 Number 1
- The effect of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on psychological variables of cardiac rehabilitation patients. S. Ingram, J Gormley, V, Maher, K Bennett Resuscitation 2006 Vol.71 (1) 89-96
- Managing Stable angina World of Irish Nursing December 2006
- Metabolic Syndrome World of Irish Nursing January 2007
- Rehabilitation of the Patient with Coronary Heart Disease Ian graham, Shirley Ingram Noeleen Fallon Vincent Maher Chapter 67 Hurst’s the Heart 12th Edition 2008 McGraw Hill Medical. New York
- Anxiety and Depression in Cardiac patients World of Irish Nursing May 2008
- The Clinical Value of 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Caroline Finn, Shirley Ingram, Noeleen Fallon, Nora Flynn. Abstract published in European Society Cardiology Journal 2008.
Patient Information
Blood Pressure.pdf (size 124.4 KB)
