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Building 55 Years of Resilient Hearts Through Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is a well-established form of treatment suitable for almost all heart conditions, including heart attacks, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and even heart failure.
The overall goal of cardiac rehab is to improve patients’ heart health and well-being, and to prevent recurrence of a cardiac incident. It is a multidisciplinary programme involving physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and physicians, assisting patients with their lifelong maintenance of dietary habits, physical activity levels, and risk factor modification such as
smoking cessation.
What does Cardiac Rehabilitation involve?
SUPERVISED EXERCISE SESSIONS
A vital part of cardiac rehabilitation that ensures patients’ safety while helping them build confidence and fitness following a cardiac event.
COUNSELLING
Provides emotional support and advice to patients and their families in coping with lifestyle changes, treatment fees, etc. while on the road to recovery.
PATIENT EDUCATION
Provides information on heart disease, treatment options, and risk factor modification, empowering patients to take an active role in their own care.
Mr Goh Kiat Jin, HWC Client since 2004
The experience (at the Heart Wellness Centre) was enlightening. They taught me how to improve my lifestyle and diet while providing essential knowledge on heart care. The therapists were encouraging and made learning easy and engaging. They emphasised the importance of taking my medication regularly and maintaining a balanced diet alongside exercise.
Our Key Milestones
1979
Cardiac Rehabilitation was introduced in Singapore as a pilot project with just four participants. The sessions were held in the Singapore General Hospital’s physiotherapy gymnasium.
Jan 1995
The programme was relocated to the Singapore Heart Centre, now known as the National Heart Centre Singapore.
29 Sep 2006
The Singapore Heart Foundation inaugurated its first Heart Wellness Centre at Bishan Junction 8, offering greater accessibility, convenience and affordable cardiac rehabilitation for heart patients.
14 Apr 2014
As demand for our services grew, SHF opened the SHF-Life Insurance Association Heart Health Hub (HHH) at Fortune Centre, now known as the SHF-Philips Foundation Heart Wellness Centre.
20 Oct 2018
SHF introduced its third Heart Wellness Centre in Bukit Gombak, now known as SHF-Cortina Watch Heart Wellness Centre, to better serve clients in the western region of Singapore.
Mr Tay Hung Yong, HWC Former Principal Physiotherapist
The opening of our Fortune Centre branch marked a significant milestone for the Heart Wellness Centre. We conducted our first study on client outcomes and initiated the Singapore Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation Symposium pilot trial along with home cardiac rehabilitation. In today’s world of social media and AI, community support and education are crucial for preventing heart disease. With so much conflicting information available, having a reliable source is essential, and SHF must actively engage on social media platforms.
Today, we are proud to support over 3,100 clients across our three centres, providing them with essential resources and guidance to recover from cardiac incidents and to enjoy a healthier life. As we celebrate our 55th anniversary, we reflect on our journey and reaffirm our commitment to enhancing heart health for all Singaporeans. Thank you for being part of our story!
