IN Cranberry Fall 2016 | Page 5

Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion Expanding cardiovascular services in the North Hills The Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion has recently expanded their cardiovascular services by adding cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac Rehab is an individualized exercise and education program for individuals who have been diagnosed with heart disease. The program provides each patient with an individualized treatment plan to help patients recover after a heart related procedure and diagnosis, including: • Heart attack • Coronary artery bypass surgery • Valve repair/replacement • Angioplasty or stent placement • Heart transplantation and VADs • Pacemaker/AICD insertion • Congestive heart failure (CHF) • Arrhythmia • Stable angina • Cardiomyopathy Patients begin the cardiac rehab program once their cardiac team approves it. It starts two to four weeks after a patient’s heart procedure. Program classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Class times are variable based on a patient’s needs. “Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation is crucial to making a full recovery and being able to resume the kind of activities a person did prior to a heart procedure. Cardiac rehab gives people the confidence they need to return to a normal lifestyle,” said Indu Poornima, MD, director of AHN’s Women’s Heart Center and cardiovascular services at the pavilion. The program is staffed by a multi-disciplinary professional team led by a cardiologist, and includes clinical exercise physiologists, registered nurses, registered dieticians, certified diabetic educators, and behavioral health specialists. Cardiac Rehab’s goal is to guide patients toward wellness and provide them with the tools they need to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle after a cardiac diagnosis. During each exercise session, the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, EKG, and oxygen saturation levels are closely monitored to ensure an optimal experience and a safe return to daily activities. Michael Hagerty, MD, AHN cardiologist, will now be seeing patients three days a week at the pavilion. “Our new cardiac rehab unit will be a very important piece in our holistic treatment for patients with heart disease,” said Dr. Hagerty. “The facility is beautiful with state-of-the-art equipment and experienced staff. Cardiac rehab gives our patients the necessary confidence to get back to a normal lifestyle.” Dr. Hagerty has more than 27 years of experience in clinical cardiology, echocardiology, nuclear cardiology, and hypertension. He will serve as the medical director of the cardiac rehab program at the pavilion. Allegheny Health Network is rated the #1 health system in western Pennsylvania and among the top 5 percent nationally for cardiac care, interventional heart care, and heart attack treatment according to Comparion® Medical Analytics, 2016 National Quality Rating Database. To schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists, call 412.DOCTORS (362.8677). Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion · 12311 Perry Highway · Wexford, PA 15090 Contact us at AHn.org or call 412.DOCTORS (412.362.8677)