Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit 
The AMC Cardiac Institute is dedicated to support and rehabilitate cardiac patients by providing a comprehensive program for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. The Center is staffed with a highly professional medical team and equipped with state of the art digital and mechanical rehabilitation equipment all focused on reducing the impact of heart disease and improving the quality of life through long term rehabilitation.
An interdisciplinary AMC team will assess, diagnose and plan the rehabilitation program for each individual patient's care needs. Fortunately for Ashdod, AMC will offer comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation close to home without compromising quality. AMC cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help heart patients recover quickly and improve their overall physical, mental and social functioning. The goal is to stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of cardiovascular disease, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease, another cardiac event or death. Cardiac rehabilitation significantly increases the chances of survival.
The AMC Cardiac Institute Rehabilitation Unit will assure maximal cardiac rehabilitation programs. Dedicated professional staff (registered nurses, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, clinical nutritionists and a diabetes educator) will coordinate and articulate their interventions in order to optimize a cardiac patient's physical, psychological and social functioning. The rehabilitation program is designed to focus on the underlying atherosclerotic processes, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.
The Unit’s unique programs are specially designed for patients with: recent heart attack, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or balloon angioplasty or who are heart transplant candidates or recipients, or have stable chronic heart failure. Everyone who joins the program receives an individualized program for cardiac wellness and a custom designed fitness plan.
In order to successfully guarantee the accomplishment of these goals, the Unit will:
- Assess patient baseline functioning and engage in long term follow-up and monitoring
- Provide risk factor management (hypertension, weight, diabetes, lipids, smoking, physical activity)
- Ensure supervised safety of physical activity and exercise training (e.g., treadmills, resistance equipment, upper body ergonometrics)
- Monitor the use of cardioprotective drugs
- Educate for stress management
- Counsel the patient to understand and manage the disease process
- Offer initial and ongoing evaluation with AMC on-site cardiologist, dietician, behavioral psychologist and registered nurse to assess physical abilities, medical limitations and other conditions you may have, and keep track of progress over time.
- Individualize an exercise program incorporating the area’s largest array of high-tech equipment and facilities, particularly motorized treadmills and stationary bikes.
- Coordinate a prescribed hour of cardiovascular exercise three times per week
- Refer to behavioral psychologists for ensuring emotional support of possible depression and anxiety.
Combining all aspects of cardiovascular rehabilitation improves functional capacity and quality of life, reduces risk factors and may create a sense of well-being and optimism about the future. Cardiac rehabilitation helps rebuild lives, both physically and emotionally.
In addition to the 280 sq. meter Cardiac Center, a fully equipped exercise gym will be at the disposal of the patients to ensure the success of the rehabilitation program.