In today's evolving health care field, the trend is
for cardiac patients to be discharged earlier from
hospitals. Patients now require more homebased
assistance as they overcome complications that
historically have occurred during hospitalization, as
well as to complete the overall recovery process.
hi response to the trend toward earlier hospital
discharge, and the rural nature of northern and
eastern Maine, Community Health and Counseling
Services offers a home-based Phase I Cardiac
Rehabilitation/Cardiac Care Program.
Candidates for Care
Candidates for CHCS cardiac nursing include
people who have been experiencing these
heartrelated problems:
- acute myocardial infarction
- recent cardiac surgery (i.e. angioplasty, coronary artery bypass)
- heart failure angina
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Critical Pathways
Upon discharge from the hospital, clients with a
primary cardiac diagnosis are assigned to a CHCS
cardiac nurse. Critical Pathways are individualized
plans utilized to guide each client's care through
skilled assessment and education. Those plans are
developed for congestive heart failure, post-coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG), and acute myocardial
infarction/ angina.
Physical therapy or occupational therapy may be
incorporated into the client's program of care, as well
as medical social work or home health aide services as
needed. The client's care includes encouragement to
transition into outpatient cardiac rehabilitation
programs.
Education-A Whole Life Recovery
Studies indicate that clients retain an average of
60 percent of what they were taught in the hospital
due to pain, anesthesia aftereffects, unfamiliar
environment, and other factors. The client's Critical
Pathways plan is complemented by an educational
component for the client and family. It is important
for both client and family to participate in the
education process and to understand the lifestyle
changes that may be required of a cardiac
rehabilitation client.
The educational component includes a teaching
manual and American Heart Association videotapes
on the following subjects:
- nutrition
- medication management
- smoking cessation
- exercise
- stress management
- disease process
Caring Professionals
Community Health and Counseling Services cardiac
nurses are kind, caring professionals who have strong
clinical backgrounds and receive ongoing education
and training about cardiac care. Working in
conjunction with hospitals and physicians, CHCS
cardiac nurses offer skilled services to clients
recovering from cardiac conditions in their most
familiar setting - the home.
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