Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation is recommended for those who have recently been admitted to hospital with a heart problem or are at risk of developing a heart issue.
Due to the current health situation and NSW Health recommendations, we are offering Cardiac Rehabilitation via Telehealth. This means that contact is through a computer, iPad, phone and/or email; staff are no longer meeting with patients in-person.
This new format is intended to be simple to use and you do not have to be an IT or computer expert to be involved. We will guide you through the steps on how to connect.
New Service options:
Heart Health Information Session (approx. 2 hours)
- A group education session providing a brief introduction on to how to manage your heart health
- These sessions are held by video-link once per month, please contact us for dates.
- Topics include:
- Heart disease management and treatment
- Medications
- Risk factors for heart disease
- The emotional recovery
- Exercise and eating for a healthy heart
Assessment with follow up contact (approx. 1 hour)
- This is an individual consultation about your cardiac condition
- Advice is on all aspects of your recovery
- This service is conducted through either video-link or phone
- We will provide specific supplementary information to you before and after the assessment
Please call or email our office to confirm your interest; we suggest to book in as soon as possible.
We are available by phone 02 9540 7309 and email SESLHD-SHARCS@health.nsw.gov.au.
Office hours are Monday – Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm.
Cardiac rehabilitation describes all the measures used to help people with coronary heart disease or other heart problems return to their normal activities and reduce their risk of further cardiovascular events.
The service, Sutherland Hospital Awareness and Cardiac Support (SHARCS), is available to those residents who live in Sutherland Shire and have had a recent cardiac event or are at risk of heart disease.
The service is not available to those with heart failure, care facility residents, those with poor balance and/or cognitive impairment.
SHARCS provides exercise and education programs to assist recovery after recent:
- Heart Attack (myocardial infarction (MI))
- Stable Angina
- Heart Surgery (bypass grafts (CABG), valve replacements/repairs (AVR, MVR, TVR))
- Angioplasty and Stent insertion (PCI)
- Pacemakers and/or defibrillator (AICD) insertion
- Atrial fibrillation (AF)
- Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
- Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) repairs
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
- Heart transplant
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors
- Other heart related conditions
SHARCS Cardiac Rehabilitation programs provide:
- Education and information
- Exercise sessions
- Assistance for self-management
- Emotional support
- Behaviour modification strategies
- Medication and physiological review
- Post-surgical assessment
- Links to community exercise services and facilities
These programs can help you and your family deal with physical, emotional and psychological recovery.
SHARCS Cardiac Rehabilitation sessions cover topics such as:
- Heart disease
- Heart investigations and treatment
- Risk factors for heart disease
- Emotional recovery and strategies
- Medications
- Eating for a healthy heart
- Exercise for heart health
- Advance care directives
The programs are developed and run by qualified health professionals, complementing the support and individual medical care given by your doctors.
If you have been in hospital you are encouraged to contact your local cardiac rehabilitation program the week after discharge.
The Heart Foundation recommends that all patients with coronary heart disease participate in a Cardiac Rehabilitation program. In particular people who have or have had a heart attack; angioplasty with or without a stent implantation; heart surgery; angina; or other heart conditions.
International research into Cardiac Rehabilitation programs show that participation can improve your recovery and future health. Participation will help in returning to work and other activities earlier; increasing your social independence; reducing any anxiety and depression you may be feeling; giving you a greater capacity for physical activity and making you less likely to return to smoking.
Please check the 'Why Cardiac Rehabilitation Really matters' - Brochure from Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA)
The first step is to contact the SHARCS Cardiac Rehabilitation team and make an appointment for your assessment before commencing an exercise program or book into a SHARCS Healthy Heart Information Day session.
Exercise Options
Individually-tailored exercise programs that include an individual assessment with a Cardiac Nurse and an Exercise Physiologist, followed by additional sessions specific to the below programs.
Twelve Week Program
Fast SHARCS: Tuesday & Friday 7-8am
Suitable for those working or planning to return to work.
Best outcomes are achieved when attendance is twice-weekly with minimal interruption.
Held on site at The Sutherland Hospital Rehabilitation Gymnasium.
Eight Week Program
Group 1: Tuesday 9.30am & Friday 8am
Group 2: Tuesday 8am & Friday 9.30am
This program includes weekly one hour education sessions following the 9:30am class.
Best outcomes are achieved when attendance is twice weekly with minimal interruption.
Held on site at The Sutherland Hospital Rehabilitation Gymnasium.
Telehealth Program
This program is conducted through video-link or telephone consultations.
Suitable for those who cannot access The Sutherland Hospital. Contact is made to you via your device: computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone or home phone.
Best outcomes are achieved through weekly consultations.
Held off site, in a location of your choosing that is quiet and has a clear telephone connection or strong internet connection.
Education Options
There are two SHARCS education options, which provide information to successfully manage your heart condition. Partners or family members are welcome to attend.
Healthy Heart Information Day
This information day will provide you with knowledge and skills to successfully manage your heart health. This day is a one-off education day held once per month on a Wednesday from 8am to 3pm.
Weekly Education Session
As part of the SHARCS Eight Week Program, a weekly one hour education session is held after the 9.30am gym class at 11am.
SHARCS can contacted by:
Phone: 02 9540 7309
Email: SESLHD-SHARCS@health.nsw.gov.au
The phone is unattended while staff are conducting exercise sessions, please leave a message on the answering machine with your name and contact number clearly stated. The team will return your call as soon as possible.
Please allow two hours for individual initial assessment for consultation. A support person is welcome to attend. Please advise upon booking if a health care interpreter is required.