New London, CT/Westerly, RI (Aug. 11, 2025) – Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M) in New London, CT, and Westerly Hospital in Westerly RI, are proud to announce the re-certification of its cardiovascular rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This re-certification is recognition of both hospitals’ commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) recover faster and live healthier. The program includes exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.
Cardiac Rehabilitation team at L + Hospital
Cardiac Rehabilitation team at Westerly Hospital
“This program has proven invaluable to our patients who are recovering from a cardiac issue,” Donna Villano, director of Cardiopulmonary services for L+M and Westerly hospitals. “We know that in order to fully recover and live a healthier lifestyle following a cardiac event, patients must commit to lifestyle changes and this program supports their effort to make those changes.”
To earn accreditation, L+M and Westerly hospitals’ cardiovascular rehabilitation program’s staff, under the supervision of Master Exercise physiologist Julie Oakley, 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.
Yale New Haven Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at 84 North Main Street, Branford, was also recertified b the AACVPR.
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.
Lawrence + Memorial (L+M) Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital that has served patients since 1912. L+M is licensed for 308 beds, employs more than 2,000 people and serves shoreline towns between Rhode Island and the Connecticut River, as well as the residents of Fishers Island, NY. L+M provides comprehensive care with expertise in emergency, cardiac, minimally invasive surgery, obstetrics, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychiatric and laboratory services. The Smilow Cancer Hospital in Waterford provides medical oncology, gynecologic oncology and radiation oncology services.www.lmhospital.org
Westerly Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a 125-bed hospital that has been providing residents of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in a community hospital setting for 100 years. Westerly Hospital patients receive the finest quality treatment in the following areas of care: emergency, medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory and rehabilitative services. The hospital also offers heart and vascular care, interventional pain management, wound care, pulmonary rehabilitation services and inpatient geriatric psychiatric care. westerlyhospital.org
