The CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation Department provides outpatient services to patients recovering from heart and lung diseases. Patient services include supervised exercise sessions, education, and encouragement in meeting the challenges of having heart or lung diseases. A physician referral is required. Services are physician directed and provided by a team of health professionals including registered nurses, exercise physiologists, dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, health educators, respiratory and physical therapists.

Patient Eligibility

Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Myocardial Infarction
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Angina
• Angioplasty, stent placements, etc.
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Cardiac Transplant
• Other Cardiac Surgery

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Emphysema
• Asthma
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Pulmonary Fibrosis/interstitial lung disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Lung Surgery; Lung Transplant

Admission Criteria:
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. A physician referral is required prior to enrollment in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Contraindications: Permanent or temporary unstable medical conditions or concurrent disease that may become worsened with exercise participation, but contraindications to exercise do not preclude focusing on risk reduction education. Conditions that may be considered contraindications to exercise include unstable angina, lifethreatening arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension and/or diabetes, symptomatic congestive heart failure, thrombophlebitis, recent embolism, orthopedic problems prohibiting exercise, and severe psychiatric disturbance.

Insurance Reimbursement: Payment for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services depends on individual medical insurance policy. The staff will verify insurance coverage prior to program enrollment. If insurance coverage is not available, patients may participate through self-pay.

CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation
Spain Rehabilitation Center R480
1717 6th Ave South
Birmingham, Al 35249
Phone: (205) 975-5400
Fax: (205) 975-5402

Hours of Operation
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Friday
- 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Program Manager: Bonnie Sanderson, Ph.D., RN
Clinical Care Coordinator: Jenny Breland, BSN, RN
Clinical Exercise Physiologist: Chris Schumann, MA, CEP
Nurse Clinician:  Jason Hitchcock, RN

Medical Directors:
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Vera Bittner, MD
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: James Johnson, MD
Nurse Clinician: Tanya Robinson, BSN, RN