Enhanced Cardiac Rehab Powered by Pritikin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab?
Pritikin intensive cardiac rehab (ICR) is a comprehensive lifestyle education program that will help you recover from your recent heart event or surgery. Pritikin ICR offers you the unique opportunity to reduce your risk of having another heart event and to improve the quality of your life. During the program, you will learn about Pritikin’s 3 Key Pillars: regular exercise, heart healthy eating plan, and healthy mindset.
How long is the Program?
There are two different tracks you can take to complete the program.
Option 1: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a 12 week period.
Option 2: Every Tuesday and Thursday for an 18 week period.
How long are the sessions?
Each class is about 90 minutes. It is divided into 60 minutes of exercise in a small class with two exercise physiologists. Following exercise, you will complete 30 minutes of education in the form of a video, a live cooking demonstration, or a presentation given by one of our rehab staff members.
Who are the staff members for ICR?
On staff, we have two exercise physiologists, a registered nurse, a patient coordinator, a registered dietitian, a health coach and a registered nurse manager.
What kind of exercise will I be doing?
The goal is to increase your heart rate through cardio-based exercises. Available equipment includes a treadmill, recumbent bike, arm ergometer, and elliptical. Each exercise program is tailored to the individual and completely personalized by our Exercise Physiologists. You will wear a heart monitor and your vital signs will be monitored the entire time you exercise. If there is any concern for physical ability to use this equipment, a functional assessment will be done prior to starting the program to ensure this program is an appropriate fit for you.
Can I miss a session if I have a vacation planned or a doctor’s appointment?
It is expected that when signing up for rehab, you are able to attend all 36 days. If you know you have a vacation planned during the 12 weeks, this may not be the right time for rehab. We want you to get the most out of this experience and attend all scheduled sessions. If you have a scheduled appointment or are sick, those are acceptable reasons to miss rehab. Rescheduling options will be made on an individual basis.
Will my insurance cover this?
It all depends on the insurance. Some insurances will cover the whole program. Several insurances will require a copay for each visit that we will bill to you later. We will run an estimated copay to give you an idea of what your insurance may require. The best option would be to call your insurance company to determine if they will cover Intensive Cardiac Rehab for 72 sessions.
In order for insurance to cover the program, you are expected to attend both the exercise portion as well as the education portion. You may not skip education, unless previously discussed with a staff member.
What should I wear?
Exercise clothing is best. Wear clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in. Sneakers are the preferred footwear. We do not have showers, but we do have areas to change and lockers for personal belongings.