St. Mary Medical Center Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Earns Industry Leading Certification

Pulmonary-Rehab-Team-2013St. Mary Medical Center is proud to announce the certification of its pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification confirms that St. Mary Medical Center’s entire Cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation program is now fully recognized for its commitment to improving the quality of life by enhancing standards of care. The hospital already received AACVPR certification for its cardiac rehabilitation program in 2005.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g. heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, etc.) and pulmonary problems (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – COPD, respiratory symptoms, etc.) recover faster and improve their quality of life. St. Mary Medical Center offers one of the few combined cardiac and pulmonary outpatient rehabilitation outpatient programs in the area. Both disciplines include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

AACVPR-Certified-ProgramSt. Mary Medical Center’s Cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. The 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 the AACVPR and other professional societies. Each program is reviewed by the AACVPR National Certification Committee and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

About AACVPR
Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families.

About St. Mary Medical Center:
St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Indiana, is a 205 bed acute-care, not-for-profit hospital with more than 1,200 employees and 300 physicians on staff. The hospital operates several medical offices and outpatient facilities throughout Northwest Indiana, including the newly completed Valparaiso Health Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. As part of Community Healthcare System, the hospital joins an extensive network of physician offices, healthcare resources and outpatient services -- at more than 25 locations – throughout Northwest Indiana.