Cardiac Services

Cardiac Rehab
Cardiac Rehab helps patients recover from heart disease through a personalized, medically prescribed exercise and education program. It is done in three phases, starting with Phase I, when a person is still hospitalized with heart disease. Phase II is 8 to 12 weeks of monitored exercise done on an outpatient basis at Ripon Medical Center. It is designed to develop a fitness level which serves the needs of each patient. Done under medical observation, Phase II is the rehabilitating time when patients rebuild their strength and learn how to make necessary lifestyle changes.

Phase III is a continuation of Phase II, and is also held at Ripon Medical Center. It is an outpatient maintenance phase promoting lifestyle changes that enhance cardiac health. The program is voluntary and self-motivated, but health care professionals oversee the program, monitoring blood pressure and patient weight. The emphasis in Phase III is on aerobic training and strength training, if desired. A half-price spousal program is available for couples who wish to join Phase III together.

Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm


Stress Testing
Ripon Medical Center offers stress testing for people who have recently recovered from a heart attack or are exhibiting symptoms of heart disease. An exercise stress test is an electrocardiogram (EKG) performed while participating in a controlled exercise. Treadmill testing is the most common because of its wide adaptability. The patient is connected to the EKG machine and exercises until the heart is beating steadily at his or her calculated rate. This method of testing often reveals characteristic changes in the EKG pattern in people with narrowing of the coronary arteries.


Heart Failure Clinic
The Heart Failure Clinic at Ripon Medical Center is designed to help improve the quality of life for patients diagnosed with heart failure. Heart failure can result from a heart attack, narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart, high blood pressure, damage to the heart muscle, defects of the heart valves, heart defects present at birth, or chronic lung disease. The clinic helps patients manage their care on an outpatient basis by providing evaluation, education, intensive monitoring, and, if needed, medication infusion. Working closely with the patient’s physician, clinic staff provide:

• A complete assessment at each visit
• Intensive customer-oriented education
• Follow-up with an RN by ongoing phone consultation
• Multi-disciplinary treatment on site (including a registered dietitian, social worker, and diabetic educator).
• Infusion therapy, if needed

A physician’s referral is required to enter the program.


Healing Hearts Club
Dealing with life after heart surgery, a heart attack, or any other chronic heart condition can be difficult at times for both patients and their families. The Healing Hearts Club is a support group and educational program for anyone recovering from any of these cardiac conditions. The group lets participants know they are not alone and that there are others out there dealing with some of the same issues. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at Ripon Medical Center.

Call 920-748-9174 for more information.