Northwell Health’s cardiovascular rehabilitation program in Great Neck has received national certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), the leading organization in the industry. The designation demonstrates Northwell’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care through measured outcomes.
Northwell’s outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, which is part of the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), is designed for patients who have undergone coronary artery stenting, heart surgeries such as bypass, valve surgery, or heart transplant, or carry a diagnosis of heart attack, stable angina, or chronic systolic heart failure. The program provides individualized exercise and risk factor modification plans, close monitoring of patients’ vitals, exercise reserve, and delivers customized heart health education and emotional support.
“The cardiac rehabilitation center provides a vital service to our patients when they leave the hospital, a time when they are most vulnerable,” said Benjamin Hirsh, MD, the program’s medical director as well as director of preventive cardiology at NSUH. “The program empowers individuals to return to everyday living with the confidence necessary to thrive and the tools essential to improve their quality of life and longevity.”
Hirsh said the comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation center supports the most heart transplant recipients on Long Island. “It’s incredible to see what these patients can achieve as they progress through the program. These successes cannot be accomplished without a staff that is dedicated to provide superior quality care,” he added.
While the cardiac rehabilitation center was established in 2017, it was a goal from the outset to be designated as a center of excellence through AACVPR certification, according to Sarah Siemers, NP, program director of the facility. “On behalf of our entire team, we are proud to receive this premier recognition,” she said. “The certifying association has an outcomes-based process with performance measurements that demonstrate we are providing excellent patient care.”
AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other related professional societies.
—Submitted by Northwell Health
