Cardiac Rehab at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Oktibbeha County

Our cardiac rehab program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) — a national recognition of clinical quality and patient outcomes.

Cardiac rehab is a supervised education and exercise program for patients who have lived through cardiovascular illness or a cardiac procedure. The goal is straightforward: restore each participant to an active, healthier level of daily living so you can return to work, the activities you love and the people who matter most.

We use American Heart Association educational materials so the guidance you receive aligns with nationally recognized heart health standards.

Cardiac rehab can help patients who have experienced any of the following:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Chest pain (angina)
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Angioplasty and stent placement
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Heart failure
• Heart transplant
• Cardiovascular disease managed with medication or other treatment

A physician referral is required to join. If you have had a recent cardiac event or procedure, talk with your cardiologist or primary care provider about a referral.

Phase I — In the Hospital

Phase I begins while you are still in the hospital, either for cardiac diagnostic testing or after a cardiac event, intervention or surgery. Our team introduces educational materials and starts supervised, progressive activity to help you begin recovery before discharge.

Phase II — Outpatient Rehab at Baptist Healthplex-Starkville

Phase II is a monitored exercise program conducted on an outpatient basis in the cardiac rehab area of Baptist Healthplex-Starkville. Sessions run Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Each Phase II session combines continued education and supervised exercise. Your blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac rhythm are monitored throughout every exercise session, with the intensity tailored to your personal capability and health status.

The number of Phase II visits covered depends on your insurance pre-certification and your condition.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) develops when the arteries carrying blood to your legs narrow from plaque buildup — the same process that affects the heart. Many people with PAD feel leg pain or cramping when they walk that eases with rest, along with poor circulation in the lower limbs.

Supervised exercise is a proven, effective treatment for PAD. Our cardiac and PAD rehabilitation program uses the same monitored, physician-directed approach to help patients walk farther with less discomfort and manage the condition over time.

You may benefit from PAD rehabilitation if you have:

• Atherosclerosis in the legs
• Intermittent claudication (leg pain or cramping when walking)
• Poor circulation in the lower limbs
• Angioplasty or stenting in the legs

As with cardiac rehab, a physician referral is required.

Research shows that people who take part in cardiovascular and PAD rehabilitation often experience meaningful improvements in their health. Depending on your condition, benefits can include:

Cardiac rehabilitation:

• Greater exercise tolerance and stamina
• Improvement in symptoms
• Better blood lipid (cholesterol) levels
• Support for reducing or quitting smoking
• Improved mental well-being and reduced stress
• Lower risk of a future cardiac event

PAD rehabilitation:

• Reduced PAD symptoms
• Improved ability to walk, climb stairs and manage daily activities
• Better quality of life

Participants learn risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the lifestyle changes that can slow disease progression. Educational topics include:

• Smoking cessation
• Hypertension management
• Dietary guidelines for a heart-healthy diet
• Weight reduction
• Safe activity and exercise guidelines
• Stress management
• Anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system
• Risk factor reduction

Every cardiac rehab session is supervised by trained health care professionals, including a registered nurse. The exercise program is built around safety and steady, measurable progress.

• Heart rate is monitored by telemetry during each session, and you learn how to take your own pulse for at-home tracking.
• Blood pressure is taken before, during and after each session.
• A variety of exercise equipment is available — air bikes, recumbent bikes, upper body and recumbent cross trainers, treadmills, an indoor walking track and dumbbells.

Our medical director signs your monthly progress reports. We send a copy to your personal physician when you or your physician request one. Daily session reports and monthly progress reports are scanned into the electronic health record, so physicians who use the same system can follow your progress.

Our cardiac rehab program is led by Hailey Hammond, AGNP-C, cardiac rehab director, and staffed by registered nurses and certified exercise physiologists who work directly with each patient. Along with exercise and education, our team offers encouragement and connects you with others in the program, so you have support at every step.

Our team works closely with the cardiology team at Baptist Medical Group-Columbus Cardiovascular Care-Starkville and with each patient's referring physician — so your full care team stays connected through every phase of recovery.

Phase II cardiac rehabilitation is reimbursed by Medicare Part B and most commercial insurance plans. Our team contacts your insurance company on your behalf and handles any pre-certification requirements before your first session. If your insurance does not cover the program, you can take part through self-pay, and our team can explain the details.

If you have questions about coverage or out-of-pocket costs, our cardiac rehab coordinator can walk you through what to expect.

The cardiology team at Baptist Medical Group-Columbus Cardiovascular Care-Starkville brings advanced heart and vascular care to families in Starkville, Mississippi. The cardiology clinic delivers diagnostic testing, follow-up care and long-term management for a wide range of heart conditions — all close to home.

Cardiology Services

• Cardiology consultation with a board-certified cardiologist and appropriate diagnostic testing
• Follow-up care from adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioners and cardiology physicians
• Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA) — advanced 3D imaging of the heart and great vessels
• Coronary calcium scoring — heart-disease risk assessment
• Nuclear stress testing
• Exercise stress testing
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Arrhythmia monitoring
• Vascular testing
• Cholesterol, blood pressure and anticoagulation testing and management
• Lifestyle education including diet, exercise and medication guidance

For patients who have completed cardiology evaluation and treatment, the next step is often cardiac rehab — and our two teams work together to make that handoff seamless.

Cardiology Clinic Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cardiology Clinic Phone: 662-240-1412

Joining cardiac rehab takes three steps:

• Talk with your physician — your cardiologist or primary care provider needs to refer you to the program.
• Contact our cardiac rehab department — call 662-615-2625 to begin intake. Our team contacts your physician for the referral and obtains the necessary medical history and records.
• Schedule your start — once approved, you receive a Phase II schedule (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Baptist Healthplex-Starkville)