West Jefferson Medical Center’s Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Certified by Industry Leader

Marrero, LA – West Jefferson Medical Center is proud to announce the certification of its pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification is recognition of West Jefferson Medical Center’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms) recover faster and live healthier. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

To earn accreditation, West Jefferson Medical Center’s cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. "Our team has worked extremely hard to be re-accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation,” says Monica Bologna, Chief Nursing Officer of West Jefferson Medical Center. “To earn this accreditation for the second year in a row speaks to the hard work and dedication of our Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation team and the one-of-a-kind care they strive to provide all of our patients.” AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other related professional societies. Each program’s application is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee, and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

In 2018, AACVPR moved to an outcomes-based process with performance measurements that represent more meaningful outcomes. Therefore, AACVPR-certified programs are leaders in the cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high-quality patient care. Rob Calhoun, President and Chief Executive Officer of West Jefferson Medical Center, says, “We are beyond proud of our Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation team. This accreditation proves we are industry leaders when it comes to exceeding exceptional standards of care and that we live up to our mission of providing healthcare beyond extraordinary.” AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

About West Jefferson Medical Center

Founded in 1956, West Jefferson Medical Center (West Jefferson) is a 419-bed community hospital located in Marrero, La. As a full-service medical center, West Jefferson offers comprehensive programs for preventive, emergency, acute and rehabilitative care with a medical staff of more than 450 physicians and a complement of 1,700 employees and many volunteers. The medical center enjoys national awards for clinical excellence across many of its subspecialties.

About AACVPR

Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families.