Mission

The Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department provides outpatient services to patients recovering from heart and lung diseases. Our services include supervised exercise sessions, education, and encouragement in meeting the challenges of having heart or lung diseases.

Objectives

Based on scientific studies, you may expect these benefits from participating in the program: Improvement in exercise tolerance,symptoms, blood lipid levels., psychosocial well-being and stress, and mortality, Patients can also expect  reduction of number of hospitalizations and number of days hospitalized and reduction in cigarette smoking. We provide treatment options for Myocardial Infarction, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Angina, Angioplasty, Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplant, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Emphysema, Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, Pulmonary Fibrosis/Interstitial Lung Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and Lung Transplant.

About Our Practice

The Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department engages in physician-directed services provided by a team of health professionals including registered nurses, exercise physiologists, dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, health educators, respiratory and physical therapists. We care for patients with a definitive diagnosis of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease or other cardiac or pulmonary conditions requiring close monitoring of exercise and risk reduction therapy.  The Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratories at Kirklin Clinic and UAB University Hospital are capable of doing cardiopulmonary exercise tests with expired gas analysis. These tests can be done on either a treadmill (typically with Bruce or modified Bruce protocol) or on a stationary bicycle. During the test, total exhaled ventilation, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production are monitored continually along with the 12 lead electrocardiogram and arterial oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry. These tests are useful to evaluate the cause of shortness of breath and to determine overall exercise tolerance.

Clinic Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Friday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Exercise Gym Hours: 
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Address:
Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Spain Rehabilitation Center R480
1717 6th Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35249

Contacting the Exercise Physiology Lab

For more information, contact Surya Bhatt, MD via phone at  (205) 934-5425 or via email at sbhatt@uabmc.edu.