Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

We are nationally recognized for our interventional procedures, including balloon angioplasty and stents, but we know that the best medicine is preventive medicine. Thus, our preventive cardiology programs are designed to prevent heart and vascular disease. We offer a variety of medically supervised exercise and lifestyle-modification programs to help people prone to heart disease lower their risk through physical activity and nutritional counseling, and use the most appropriate medications when needed to further reduce risk. 

 

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Treatments & Services

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

The Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Program offers a wide range of services for people who have heart disease. 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/ left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may all benefit from cardiac rehabilitation at Boston Medical Center. The overall goal for all patients is to increase physical endurance, muscular strength, improve mood, and importantly, reduce future risk of heart disease.

BMC’s comprehensive program is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. The program is widely recognized as providing the highest quality of care available, from exercise programing to smoking cessation strategies and cholesterol management.

Patients may join the program soon after an event. For questions regarding eligibility or referral, call 617.638.8788.

Vascular Exercise Program

Our vascular exercise program offers supervised exercise therapy for those with symptomatic peripheral artery disease experiencing claudication. Supervised exercise is known to improve walking ability, overall functional status, and health-related quality of life. A structured exercise program has been shown to have comparable benefits on walking ability, functional status, and quality of life as limb revascularization (with angioplasty and stenting) in those with claudication. We offer an exercise program to facilitate these improvements in limb related symptoms and functional ability.

Beyond limb-related outcomes, people with peripheral artery disease are also at a higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Our program provides a comprehensive approach to address other factors known to negatively impact cardiovascular risk, including smoking cessation and cholesterol management.

Patients with an established diagnosis of peripheral artery disease with claudication may join the program. For questions regarding eligibility or referral, call 617.638.8788.

The Lipid Clinic

High cholesterol and blood lipid levels can lead to the development or worsening of heart and vascular disease. Appropriate and tailored treatment has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce future risk and events, such as heart attack and stroke. 

The team of specialists at the Lipid Clinic provide individualized risk assessment and state-of-the art treatments that are specific to each patient, including those with complex lipid disorders.

For more information or referral to the Lipid Clinic, call 617.638.7490.

Our Team

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Team

Gary J. Balady, MD

Director of Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Labs and Preventive Cardiology

Stephanie Zombeck Le, MS 
Chief Exercise Physiologist and Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Manager

Molly Boylan, RN
Program Nurse                           

Nkem Ulebor, BS
Exercise Physiologist

Eric Jacobs, MS
Exercise Physiologist

Sarah Veber, LDN
Nutritionist

Patient Resources