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Rehab services for heart patients at medical city

ABU DHABI - Cardiac rehabilitation services for both in-patients and out-patients have been launched at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by the Cleveland Clinic, it was announced here yesterday.

This makes the SKMC the first hospital in the Middle East to offer such services.

The Department of Cardiac Sciences will offer cardiac rehabilitation services fulfilling the needs of heart attack patients and patients treated by heart surgery.

High-risk patients are expected to be referred from out-patient cardiology and other speciality clinics for cardiac rehabilitation in an attempt to prevent worsening heart problems.

In addition, all patients who go home after heart attack or cardiac surgery are best managed through a programme of constant physical activity, regular exercise, dietary control, and correct medications to prevent future heart attacks and assure a rapid return to work and normal life activities.

Around 200-250 patients per month are attending the cardiac rehabilitation sessions at the hospital, according to Dr Scott Strong, Acting CEO.

"This number is expected to increase in the near future. Cardiac rehabilitation services will help us meet the needs of all our patients who suffer from heart diseases or heart failure as well as those who have undergone cardiac surgeries," he said.

asmahamid@khaleejtimes.com

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