Cardiac and Heart Failure Rehabilitation Service at Canberra Hospital

Our Cardiac and Heart Failure Rehabilitation services treat people with problems and injuries relating to the heart and circulatory system.

About this service

Our Cardiac and Heart Failure Rehabilitation services are part of our larger Cardiology service that includes:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Catheter Laboratory
• Electrophysiology (EP)
• Interventional Cardiac Procedures and
• Coronary Care Unit.

These Nurse and Allied Health led services help you in your recovery after an acute cardiac event focused on education and lifestyle modifications.

Cardiac rehabilitation is also offered at North Canberra Hospital. We have more information about North Canberra Hospital’s Cardiac rehabilitation service.

Who we care for

We care for both inpatients and outpatients. Most people will start our program as an inpatient.

Referral to the Cardiac and Heart Failure Rehabilitation programs are made by the Cardiologist medical team.

We offer these services for free if you have a Medicare Card or an Asylum Seeker Card.

How to access this service

Your Medical practitioner will organise for you to access this service.

We’ll contact you to book your first appointment once we receive your referral.

What to expect

We run two rehabilitation programs:

• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Heart failure rehabilitation.

Both programs focus on education, wellness, lifestyle modification and exercise. You’ll also have sessions in our Exercise Physiology Gym. The programs last for several weeks.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

If you’ve had a cardiac event, one of our Cardiac Rehabilitation nurses will visit you while you’re still in hospital. Cardiac events include heart attacks, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy and stent insertion.

During this first visit, we’ll talk to you about:

• your diagnosis and what it might mean for you
• returning to normal activities
• managing your risk factors
• medications, and
• the importance of following up with your GP or specialist once you’re discharged from hospital.

You’ll have an appointment in the Cardiology department two weeks after you’re discharged. During this appointment your nurse will help you learn more about your condition and may arrange referrals for other services.

You’ll then start a six-week program of exercise and education. You’ll be asked to attend the program twice a week. The program is held at the exercise rehabilitation gym in building 15, Canberra Hospital.

Heart Failure Rehabilitation

This program is similar to the Cardiac Rehabilitation program but is designed for people who are living with heart failure.

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Reading glasses (if required)

Where we’re located

• Cardiology Unit, Building 1, Level 3, Canberra Hospital.
• Exercise Physiology Gym, Building 15, Level 1 (ground level), Canberra Hospital.

We have directions to Canberra Hospital.