Baptist Health Paducah Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program recertified by industry leader
PADUCAH, KY (Oct. 14, 2025) — Baptist Health Paducah is proud to announce the recertification of its Cardiovascular rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The hospital has maintained this certification for the last 40 years and is recognition of Baptist Health Paducah’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.
Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help patients 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.
“The accreditation demonstrates staff commitment to sustaining excellence over several years. We are dedicated to continuously meeting the highest standards of care through evidence-based practices through the latest guidelines set by the experts,” said Elisha Richardson, Director of Cardiovascular Services Baptist Health Paducah.
“Our high standards of care benefit our patients by assuring high quality care, improved patient results, and risk reduction benefits after a cardiac event. Patients also feel a level of comfort in knowing that with our coordinated care between the patient, staff, and physicians, we are ensuring a smooth transition for patients after hospitalization,” added Richardson.
To earn accreditation, Baptist Health Paducah’s cardiovascular rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. 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. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.
Baptist Health Paducah has long been known as a leader in heart care, performing the region’s first open-heart surgery in 1985. The tradition continues today as Baptist Health Paducah is the only hospital in the region to earn the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence, the highest honor from the American College of Cardiology. The hospital’s advanced Structural Heart team performs advanced, minimally invasive procedures such as TAVR, WATCHMAN FLX™, and MitraClip™.
In addition, Baptist Health Paducah is one of only a few hospitals in the state to earn a STAR 3-Star rating for its coronary bypass graft (CABG) program, reflecting the highest level of quality care. In addition to bypass surgery, the hospital cardiothoracic surgeons provide an extensive aortic surgery program, offering a wide range of procedures including aortic root and valve-sparing root surgeries, aortic arch surgeries, and endovascular treatments for thoracic, thoracoabdominal, and abdominal aneurysms and dissections.
To learn more about heart program, visit Heart Care - Baptist Health.