The Gragg Center for Cardiovascular Performance
A landmark 2023 gift from Margaret and Smoky Bissell will enable Sanger to establish The Gragg Center for Cardiovascular Performance, which is dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health and improving patient outcomes through personalized exercise guidance and innovative research. Our mission is to provide novel approaches for medically-directed exercise guidance in cardiac patients, offer disease-specific protocols to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and understand the underlying causes of cardiac limitations to exercise across all age groups and fitness levels.
We achieve this by leveraging the capabilities of our Sports Cardiology Center, CPET Lab and Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, and by developing new service offerings to reach all populations that could benefit from exercise to improve cardiovascular performance.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Our expert team uses a variety of tools and resources – including supervised exercise sessions, nutritional assessment and counseling, and medication management – to reduce the risk of advancing heart disease and help patients through every step of recovery.
Recent Highlights
Sanger’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is now offering intensive cardiac rehabilitation through partnership with Pritikin.
Innovations
Launching a cardiovascular surgery prehabilitation pilot program: This program aims to improve patients’ presurgical health and strength in order to improve postoperative recovery and outcomes.
Leading a cardio-oncology cardiac rehabilitation research pilot: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a supervised exercise program for patients with cardiac amyloidosis. Our ultimate goal is for all cardio-oncology patients to be eligible for cardiac rehabilitation, and for our work to help spur payors to cover this service.
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The 19th Annual Cupid’s Cup 5K raised $45,000 to support our cardiac rehabilitation programs and provide scholarships for patients to participate in cardiac rehabilitation.
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All Sanger Cardiac Rehabilitation locations were awarded certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
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50%
Improvement in Patient Max METS
(Metabolic Equivalent)
Internal Data, YTD September 2023 -
44%
Improvement in Patient 6 MWT Distance
Internal Data, YTD September 2023 -
48%
PHQ9
(Improvement in Depression)
Internal Data, 2023 Year-End -
28%
DASI
(Improvement in Patient Functional Capacity)
Internal Data, 2023 Year-End
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Sanger’s cardiac rehab services include:
- Supervised exercise sessions
- Exercise Prescriptions
- Telemetry monitoring
- Nutritional assessment and counseling
- Cooking demonstration
- Personalized diet, blood cholesterol, and body composition analysis
- Medication management
- Stress management and emotional support
- Smoking cessation coaching
Leadership
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Dermot M. Phelan, MD, PhD, FASE, FACC
The Gragg Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine Medical Director, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center Medical Director, The Gragg Center for Cardiovascular Performance Medical Director, Cardiovascular Imaging