New cardiopulmonary rehab center opens in Idaho Falls

The cardiopulmonary rehab program is now open at Mountain View Hospital in Idaho Falls. The facility is a crucial part in helping cardio and pulmonary patients get back on their feet after getting out of the hospital.

“Not only do they need to take their medications that their doctors give them, this is a crucial part of their rehabilitation, feeling better about themselves,” said Dr. Allen Salem, director of Cardiopulmonary Rehab.

The facility has a wide variety of equipment customized to each patient’s individual needs.

“Some patients can only use their arms,” Salem said. “Some their legs. Some can use treadmills. Some need to be on recumbent bikes.”

One respiratory therapist says cardiac patients that go through cardiac rehab are two-thirds less likely to have another cardiac event. There are specialists and therapists on hand to hook up and monitor patients so they can workout without a fear of something bad happening.

“With cardiac patients, we’ll hook them to a cardiac monitor, make sure their heart stays in rhythm while they’re exercising and also their oxygen saturation,” said Rodney Cleverley, a respiratory therapist and manager of Cardiopulmonary Rehab.

The rehab center also provides education to patients so they can live a healthy lifestyle.

“We also supply education to those patients as far as pharmaceutical, nutrition, weight training,” Cleverley said. “Those types of things that will help them succeed even further.”

If you would like to be a patient at the Cardiopulmonary Rehab, all you need is a referral from a doctor. The rehab center will also work with doctors at the new Idaho Falls Community Hospital once it is open this fall.