Preventive Cardiology / Cardiac Rehabilitation

Program Overview

The Preventive Cardiology programs at the Boston Medical Center offer a wide range of services for people who have, or are at risk for developing, heart disease.

Our multidisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Program has been certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and provides the highest quality of care available, from exercise programs to smoking cessation strategies and cholesterol management.

Appropriate candidates for the program:

• Patients who have recently had a heart attack, coronary artery disease, valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, coronary angioplasty, stent or heart transplant may all benefit from cardiac rehabilitation. For questions regarding eligibility, call Carol McNally at (617) 638-8720.
• Patients may join the program as soon as possible after an event.

The goals and length of program:

• Goals of the program are to increase physical endurance, muscular strength, improve mood, and importantly, reduce future risk of heart disease.
• The program consists of two to three 1-hour sessions per week for 12 to 18 weeks.

We provide each patient with:

• Initial assessment by a cardiologist
• Exercise testing
• Supervised exercise training
• Personal nutrition evaluation and weight management
• Cholesterol screening and management
• Smoking cessation
• Risk factor modification and education
• Periodic reports to referring physicians.
• A 3-month transition program is available to interested participants who wish to extend their time in cardiac rehabilitation.

How to join/cost

• Patients are referred to the program by their primary care physician or cardiologist.
• Patients should contact their insurance agency to discuss cost of the program and find out about their individual coverage.

The Lipid Clinic serves to help prevent the onset or worsening of cardiovascular disease by evaluating and managing high cholesterol and blood lipid levels. Our multidisciplinary staff includes physicians, nurses, and nutritionists from the Sections of Cardiology, Endocrinology and Nutrition, and Boston Medical Center. Our staff members work closely with each patient's primary care physician. Patients receive an individualized program of medical therapy, nutritional counseling, exercise, and education.

Contact Us

Our programs are located in the Cardiovascular Clinical Center, a state-of-the-art facility located at 732 Harrison Avenue on the 4th floor. Please call Carol Mc Nally, RN (617) 638-8720 for more information.

Lipid Clinic (617) 638-7490

Questions and Comments click here

AHA HeartHub

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

For more information please visit the HeartHub section on our site For Patients.

Our Team

Medical Director: Gary Balady, MD

Carol McNally, RN
Nurse Coordinator

Stephanie Zombeck, MS
Chief Exercise Physiologist

Ryan Sherman, MS
Exercise Physiologist

Meghan Duncan, MS
Exercise Physiologist
Smoking Cessation Coordinator

Anette Vehus, MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietician