Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help your heart heal and get stronger after a cardiac event or procedure. At Monument Health in Rapid City, we offer the Pritikin Program, which is one of only three Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) programs that is approved by Medicare.

The program combines three powerful elements: personalized exercise, heart-healthy nutrition education and stress and mental wellness support. You’ll work with a dedicated care team, attend interactive workshops, and gain the tools and confidence to live a fuller, healthier life — long after the program ends.

Research consistently shows that patients who complete cardiac rehab have lower rates of repeat heart events, fewer hospitalizations and longer lives. It’s not just about recovering from what happened — it’s about building a stronger future.

ICR offers significant benefits over traditional cardiac rehabilitation.

• CR covers a maximum of 36 sessions, often focused primarily on exercise.
• ICR consists of two components at each patient visit, totaling up to 72 sessions:
  • As with traditional CR, 36 sessions are primarily exercise.
  • The additional 36 education sessions focus on heart-healthy nutrition and developing a healthy mindset, covering topics such as stress and anxiety management and effective goal-setting.

Traditional CR programs are historically underutilized. According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, only 62 percent of qualifying cardiac patients are referred to a CR program by their physician. Of that 62 percent, only one third actually attend the program.

Pritikin ICR provides patients with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed, both during cardiac rehab and long after cardiac rehab is complete.

Pritikin’s comprehensive learning model consists of immersive workshops, cooking demos, and professionally-produced videos. This flexible curriculum can be tailored to fit patients’ needs, and is designed to reinforce key concepts and support a variety of learning styles.

Loved ones are encouraged to attend each Pritikin education session for additional patient motivation and support.

Through Pritikin ICR, patients learn how to:

• Implement significant lifestyle changes
• Create a personalized Nutrition Action Plan and Exercise Action Plan
• Lose weight using healthy, evidence-based strategies
• Make heart-healthy choices when preparing a meal or dining out
• Utilize a variety of strategies for tobacco cessation (if needed)
• Manage stress in their daily lives

You need to be referred by a physician to do cardiac rehab. Your physicians generally needs to give you a qualifying diagnosis to qualify.

The qualifying patient events for Pritikin ICR are:

• Acute myocardial infarction
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Current stable angina pectoris
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty / stenting
• Heart or heart-lung transplant
• Chronic heart failure

Please consult with your physician for further details.

For patients with qualifying conditions, Medicare Part B and many private insurance plans cover both standard cardiac rehab and ICR.

To confirm your coverage, we recommend calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card or contacting our team at Monument Health.

Your out-of-pocket costs will depend on your specific insurance plan.

Patients who complete cardiac rehab typically see meaningful improvements in their heart health, energy levels, strength and overall quality of life. Many report feeling more confident, less anxious and better equipped to manage their health long-term.

Clinically, cardiac rehab has been shown to reduce the risk of a second heart attack, decrease hospitalizations, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, support healthy weight management and improve cardiovascular endurance. The Pritikin program in particular is backed by more than 100 peer-reviewed, published studies performed by UCLA medical researchers supporting its effectiveness.

Results vary from person to person and depend on factors like your starting health, how consistently you attend and the lifestyle changes you make along the way.