Sheikh Khalifa Medical City officially launches Cardiac Rehabilitation Services

The Department of Cardiac Sciences at SKMC is considered the first in the Middle East to offer cardiac rehabilitation services fulfilling the needs of heart attack patients and patients treated by heart surgery.

Patients who go home after heart attack or cardiac surgery are best managed through a program 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.

In addition, high-risk patients are also expected to be referred from outpatient cardiology and other specialty clinics for Cardiac Rehabilitation in an attempt to prevent worsening heart problems.

Mr. Saif Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of SEHA, stated:

"The new Cardiac Rehabilitation Services is a crucial expansion that makes SKMC among the region's leaders in cardiac care providing a full spectrum of cardiac services to cardiac patients."

Dr Scott Strong, Acting CEO of SKMC, stated that "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. Our statistics indicate that 200-250 patients per month are attending the cardiac rehabilitation sessions at SKMC, and this number is expected to increase in the near future."

"The Department of Cardiac Sciences at SKMC demonstrates the commitment of SKMC, Cleveland Clinic, and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - SEHA to provide medical care that is advanced and meets internationally recognized standards of excellence", Dr Strong added.

Dr. Gregory Eising, Head of Adult Cardiac Surgery, commented: "When it comes to the heart, we take great pride in caring for you, educating you, and supporting you every step of the way. Offering cardiac rehabilitation services to our patients is a significant achievement in advanced cardiac care for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. SKMC is committed to continuous improvement of care to ultimately improve the health of the population of the UAE. The cardiac rehabilitation services will enable us to improve our patients' lifestyle after cardiac surgeries and heart attacks".

"The cardiac rehabilitation team educates the patient regarding what caused their heart problem, and helps them identify risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, over weight and inactive life style. The patients are also taught how to live a normal life after a heart attack or heart surgery", Dr Eising added.

Dr Awatif Al Sousi, Head of Cardiac Rehabilitation Services, explains briefly what cardiac rehabilitation services are offered at the department of cardiac sciences.

She said: "The cardiac physiotherapists help these patients to get up, walk around as early as possible after the heart attacks and cardiac surgery while under cardiac monitoring, do exercises and get them back to their normal routine life.

They teach the patient the steps of a home exercise program and advice them on the precautions that needs to be remembered while doing their daily activities.

The patients are also advised on how to handle heavy objects, when to drive and how to modify sexual activities", Dr Al Sousi added. "We also hold group sessions for inpatients twice a day in the Cardiac Rehabilitation gym located in the first floor of the Medical Pavilion of SKMC.

In these group sessions, the patients are educated through videos and multimedia graphics to make them understand what went wrong with their heart, what are the major cardiac risk factors and how to reduce them, and how the doctors have treated them, this will be followed by group exercise session".

She further explained: "Cardiac rehabilitation services is also supported by Clinical Dietitians to counsel the patients regarding healthy eating and food selection after assessing the diet and eating habits of the patient. If patient requires counseling for stress management or for depression, a Clinical Psychologist would also be involved. Patients who are currently smoking are helped to stop tobacco abuse by trained smoking cessation counselors."

Dr. Al Sousi said: "Health statistics show that cardiac rehabilitation services is a vital part of the healing process after surgeries and SKMC is happy to provide this service within the community and make SKMC a national centre of excellence in the specialty."