Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Exercise Prescription for Complex Patients

North American Seminars Course Outline

North American Seminars presents this two-day intermediate level course which presents information on determining appropriate levels of exercise tolerance in order to maximize rehabilitation outcomes. Evidence based information will be provided on how to determine appropriate monitoring and therapeutic guidelines for patients with diagnoses such as diabetes, obesity, congestive heart failure, cardiac muscle dysfunction, pulmonary disease, general orthopedic, neuromuscular, elderly, and deconditioning.
Therapists in all areas of expertise must have working knowledge of underlying risk factors prior to establishing treatment programs for their patients. This information is critical for determining safe and effective exercise programs for clients of all diagnoses. Course information provides participants with information from which to build a fundamental understanding of their patient’s risk factors and baseline physiological values. This baseline assessment forms the foundation of patient exercise programs that maximize rehab within the patient’s specific constraints.

Specific information will be discussed on how diets and medications, in addition to underlying cardiovascular disorders, can alter the outcomes of rehabilitation programs. In-depth discussion is placed on key factors essential when developing the initial evaluation and guidelines for safe exercise programs. Participants will be able to identify just how far they can safely “push” their patients by identifying normal and abnormal physiological response to exercise. Evidence based and clinically researched interventions will be presented to enhance the participants’ ability in developing their patient specific exercise programs. Specific case studies presented throughout the two-day lecture will assist the clinician in applying the information to their actual clinical situations. This information will result in less rehabilitation set backs and more successful outcomes.

This cou

North American Seminars Course Objectives

• Identify patient risk factors for heart and lung disease.
• Discuss the effects of aging, inactivity and disease.
• Understand the effect of diet and exercise on risk factors for coronary artery disease.
• Understand the necessity of identifying exercise tolerance in patients of all diagnoses prior to developing a rehabilitation program.
• Describe the effect of diet on exercise performance.
• Differentiate between normal and abnormal physiological responses to exercise.
• Identify the effects of medications on resting VS and exercise responses.
• Determine appropriate clinical decisions based upon clinical assessment.
a. monitoring
b. specific exercises
• Understand how to incorporate clinical research when developing therapeutic activities that affect the cardiovascular and/or pulmonary systems.
• Incorporate specific guidelines into the initial evaluation to assist with determining appropriate risk factors.
• Develop rehabilitation programs within the safe “exercise tolerance” of your client.
• Identify how far you can safely push a client to achieve better aerobic capacity.
• Develop specific initial evaluations and exercise programs for patients with disease/dysfunction including diabetes, obesity, CHF, cardiac muscle dysfunction, pulmonary disease, general orthopedic, neuromuscular, elderly and deconditioned.
• Determine appropriate outcomes when developing a treatment plan, and provide guidelines for optimal documentation and reimbursement.

North American Seminars Course Brochure and Timeline

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North American Seminars 2009 Scheduled Dates and Locations

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Ellen Hillegass, EdD, PT, CCS, FAACVPR, is a board certified cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist. Ellen received her entry level training in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania, Masters of Medical Science in Cardiopulmonary Physiology from Emory University, and Doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Georgia. She is currently president of a private consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in developing programs for patients with cardiac and/or pulmonary dysfunction. She is the legislative chair for the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Section and also the co-editor of Essentials in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy, an entry- level text, and the author of the soon to be published clinical guide Rehab Notes. In addition to her involvement with the APTA, Ellen is also a past board member and officer of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and a member of the Disease Management Task Force. Ellen has taught exercise physiology and cardiopulmonary components in several entry level physical therapy curriculums, including Georgia State University and Emory University. She is currently teaching at North Georgia College and State University. She has given presentations across the United States at state and national meetings on a wide variety of topics. Ms. Hillegass presents this course for North American Seminars throughout the United States.