The Center for Cardiac, Pulmonary, and Vascular Fitness

Support Services for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Support Groups

Participating in support groups will provide encouragement during your quest for better health.

Medical employee at Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab
Support services for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation include support groups, psychosocial services, nutrition and culinary education, and pharmacy services.

The Pulmonary Maintenance Support Group meets monthly, generally on fourth Thursdays, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., on the second floor of the Center for Cardiac Fitness at 208 Collyer Street. It is open to all patients in The Miriam Hospital’s Pulmonary Maintenance Program, and the cost is covered by the program fee. The support group addresses chronic disease management, strategies to improve motivation, and energy conservation. Presenters include a psychologist and staff from The Miriam Hospital. For details, call 401-793-5810.

The Stress Management Group is a five-week program with a schedule that is determined by patient participation. It meets from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays on the second floor of the Center for Cardiac Fitness at 208 Collyer Street. It is open to patients enrolled in The Miriam Hospital’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Cardiopulmonary Maintenance programs. The cost is covered under the Cardiopulmonary Maintenance Program fee. Topics include relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive coping, problem solving and assertiveness. A psychologist facilitates the group. For details, call 401-793-5810.

The Heart Transplant/Ventricular Assistive Device Support Group meets quarterly from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the last Thursdays of January, April, July and October on the second floor of the Center for Cardiac Fitness at 208 Collyer St. The group is open to heart transplant and VAD patients and their family members and friends. There is no fee. Discussions cover anxiety and mood management, group support, nutrition and online resources.  Presenters include The Miriam Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation staff psychologist and program manager, the CVI Heart Failure Clinic director and the Tufts Medical Center transplant cardiologist. For more information, call 401-793-5810.

Psychosocial Services

People who have cardiac, vascular, or chronic lung diseases are more susceptible to depression, anxiety and other emotional problems. In our program, patients can participate in group and individual meetings with a behavioral psychologist to address their psychological and emotional needs.

Nutrition/Culinary Education

Registered dietitians and culinary interns offer supermarket tours, recipes and cooking demonstrations to help you adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Because of the extra energy they expend to breathe, people with chronic lung disease have special nutritional needs. Unless they compensate by adding more calories to the diet, patients may lose weight and become malnourished. Our program provides both individual and group meetings with a registered dietitian to teach you how to meet those needs.

Pharmacy Services

Consider your pharmacist at Lifespan Pharmacy part of your health care team. Pharmacists communicate with your physician to provide comprehensive, safe care. Our experienced pharmacy representatives are specially trained to assist you with everything from answering commonly asked questions about your medication to medication delivery.