Rebuilding Heart Health
Marvin Altman Fitness Center
810 Lexington Ave.
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 441-5085
Click Here for a Program Brochure
The Sparks Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, established in April 2007, is a multi-disciplinary program that employs a comprehensive approach to rebuilding the cardiovascular health of patients who have experienced several heart-related conditions.
Who needs Cardiac Rehabilitation?
The Sparks Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (available by physician referral only) can benefit patients who have had a cardiac diagnosis within the past year. Eligible conditions include:
- Stable angina (not limited to one year)
- Heart attack
- Bypass or valve surgery
- Cardiomyopathy
- Angioplasty/stent placement
- Heart or heart/lung transplant
The program, headquartered in a large classroom at Marvin Altman Fitness Center Classroom (adjacent to Sparks Regional Medical Center), features medically directed and carefully supervised exercise (monitored via telemetry), health/lifestyle education and nutritional counseling (including a demonstration kitchen), all tailored to each patient’s individual condition and needs.
Primary referral physicians for the program are Cardiologists, Internal Medicine physicians and Family Practice physicians.
A proactive approach
“This program is based on a proactive approach of sustainable lifestyle and behavior modification that produces positive outcomes and a better quality of life for people who have suffered from heart-related illnesses and disorders,” said Davin Haraway, D.O., FACOI, the program’s Medical Director. “Too often, people who have experienced some sort of serious cardiac dysfunction are discharged from the hospital and fall back into habits that contributed to the adverse event. This happens most often because these patients simply lack the knowledge and support they need to adopt a more heart-healthy lifestyle. That’s where programs such as this come in.”
How long does the program last?
For many patients, a cardiac rehabilitation regimen begins while they are still in the hospital. After discharge, the patient gradually increases his or her activity level and begins education about heart-healthy lifestyle choices, via education and exercise sessions for a period of 12-18 weeks. Then comes the long-term maintenance program, a lifelong commitment from the patient to continue on his or her own or under medical supervision.