Cardiac Rehabilitation Backgrounder
St. John’s Rehab is the only hospital in Ontario solely dedicated to specialized rehabilitation. We are the only hospital in the Greater Toronto Area offering comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programs following cardiac surgery. Our cardiac rehabilitation program offers care for patients recovering from recent cardiovascular surgery such as coronary bypass surgery, valve replacement and peripheral vascular surgery.
- We have partnerships with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Cardiac Care Network, Community Care Access Centre, acute care centres and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute cardiac outpatient services.
- Patients are admitted to our inpatient program as soon as three days following surgery.
- Our multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals develops realistic goals and timelines with each patient and keeps in close contact with the patient and his or her family. This helps achieve maximum recovery, independence and quality of life.
- The individually customized program consists of assessment, treatment and support focused on the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
- Patients receive education on cardiovascular health and learn about lifestyle changes to promote optimal health and reduce heart health risks.
- Daily exercise and walking program to build strength and mobility. Energy conservation training and tips to reduce strain to the heart.
- Our highly skilled and committed multidisciplinary rehab team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists, physicians, dietitians, social workers, psychologists and spiritual care.
- As a teaching site of the University of Toronto, we excel in teaching and researching rehabilitation care.
St. John’s Rehab cardiac program patients (April 2009 – March 2010)
- Total inpatient beds: 17
- Inpatients admitted: 386
- Typical length of inpatient stay: approximately two weeks
- Average age of patients: 75 years old
- Patients aged 55 or older: 97 per cent
- Gender of patients: 46 per cent male, 54 per cent female
Canadian cardiac facts
- According to Health Canada, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in Canada. It is the most costly disease for Canada’s health care system.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation:
- In 2006, cardiovascular disease accounted for more than 69,000 deaths in Canada.
- In 2006, 30% of all male deaths and 31% of all female deaths in Canada were due to cardiovascular disease.
- Heart disease and stroke costs Canadians more than $22.2 billion every year.
- In 2004, Canadian acute care hospitals handled almost three million hospitalizations.
- Up to 45,000 cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada. That’s about one cardiac arrest every 12 minutes.
- There are about 70,000 heart attacks each year in Canada. That’s about one heart attack every seven minutes.
- Over 16,000 Canadians die each year from a heart attack.
- The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada estimates that at least 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke could be prevented through healthy diet, regular physical activity and a smoke-free lifestyle.