Mary Washington Healthcare’s Cardiac & Rehabilitation Program Certified by American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Fredericksburg, VA, (September 24, 2024) - Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC)is proud to announce the certification of its cardiac & pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification is recognition of Mary Washington Healthcare’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms) recover faster and live healthier. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

To earn accreditation, Mary Washington Healthcare’s cardiac and rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other related professional societies. Each program’s application is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee, and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

In 2018, AACVPR moved to an outcomes-based process with performance measurements that represent more meaningful outcomes. Therefore, AACVPR-certified programs are leaders in the cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high-quality patient care. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

“Our highly trained, experienced, and compassionate team of rehabilitation professionals includes exercise physiologists, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists,” said Micaela Iantorno, MD, MHS, RPVI, FAHA, Interventional Cardiology, Medical Director, MWHC Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation. “We believe rehabilitation is a key component of a patient’s continuum of care and successful recovery and are proud to receive this prestigious AACVPR accreditation.”

The MWHC cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program is the ideal choice for individuals who have experienced chest pain, have had a heart attack, coronary artery stenting, or valve replacement. In addition, those who live with heart or vascular conditions like heart failure, angina, or peripheral vascular disease or deal with pulmonary challenges such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefit greatly. For more information, please visit heart.mwhc.com.

###

About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional healthcare system that provides inpatient and outpatient care at over 60 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed tertiary hospital, Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital, four emergency departments, and a multi-specialty graduate medical education program. Mary Washington Healthcare is a non-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.

About AACVPR

Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality, and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research, and disease management. Central to the core mission is improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Learn more about AACVPR aacvpr.org