Best of 2003: Best Heart Disease Recovery Program

Healing Hearts Program
Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine
www.scrippshealth.org/723_766.asp
858-554-3300

Modeled after the Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, the Healing Hearts Program helps people make changes that can prevent and even reverse heart disease. Small groups begin every six weeks. Individuals receive stress testing and lipid profile analysis, body composition analysis, custom exercise plans based upon stress testing and body type, aerobic exercise with cardiac monitoring supervised by a nurse and exercise physiologist, and spiritual counseling. The group participates in a lecture series, cooking demonstrations and meals, stress-management classes, group support meetings, and ongoing support programs. Participation in the 24-week program as a prevention measure costs $5500. Individuals who are referred by their cardiac surgeons usually qualify for partial insurance coverage. Payment plans are available.