GREEN BAY, Wis., The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Aurora BayCare Medical Center has been certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).

The certification process takes nearly one full year and recognizes those programs rigorously reviewed by a national board and found to meet the outlined essential requirements for standards of care. The nearly two dozen requirements cover areas including preventive maintenance for equipment, protocols for emergencies, nutritional and educational sessions, and risk assessment, among others.

“This shows that we have a state-of-the-art program and that we provide the highest quality of patient care,” said Shirley Brusewitz, cardiac rehab coordinator. “The national organization has set up very high standards, and we meet all the criteria.”

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Aurora BayCare, with both inpatient and outpatient components, is a medically supervised, intensive lifestyle intervention and health education program. Emphasis is on prevention of heart disease by reducing risk factors. The program is just over two years old, having been established in June 2002. Certification is valid for three years and can be renewed.

Participation in the Cardiac Rehab Program helps limit the physiological and psychological effects of cardiac illness, reduce the risk for sudden death or relapse, stabilize and/or improve the patient’s condition, and enhance the patient’s quality of life.

Aurora BayCare Medical Center is a 126-bed, full-service tertiary care hospital located at 2845 Greenbrier Road on Green Bay’s east side. It opened in September 2001 as a joint effort of Aurora Health Care and BayCare Clinic.

Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers services at sites in more than 80 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.

The AACVPR is a national, multi-disciplinary association dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, promotion of scientific inquiry, and advancement of education for the benefit of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals and the patients they serve.