Careful preparation before going home is an important step toward a smooth and safe recovery at home. This page helps you and your family prepare what you need after receiving care at Heartology, from managing your medications and follow-up visit schedule to the emergency signs to watch for.
Heartology's medical team and nurses are ready to support you, including after you go home. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Preparing to Go Home: Medications and Medical Equipment
Before going home, make sure you and your family have prepared the following.
A list of the medications you need to take
Including the name of each medication, the dose, when to take it, and how to store it, for example in a dry place away from sunlight
Your doctor's prescription
To collect your medications at the nearest pharmacy
Heartology pharmacy contact details
If you need help with medication refills
Medical equipment provided by the hospital, if needed
For example a blood pressure monitor or an oxygen tank
Instructions for use from the nurse
For example how to clean a surgical wound
Medical equipment supplier contact details
For questions about the equipment or servicing
Preparing to Go Home: Follow-Up Visits, Transportation, and Contacts
Date and time of your next follow-up visit
Appointment with your specialist doctor
Phone number for confirming or changing your follow-up visit
A companion to help you go home
Patients who have just had surgery must not drive themselves
Ambulance or medical transportation schedule
If you are using one, make sure the schedule has been confirmed
Wheelchair or walking stick
For urgent consultations
Your attending physician's number
Contact details of family members or relatives
Who can be contacted in an emergency
Preparing to Go Home: Important Documents
Discharge letter from the hospital
Test or laboratory results
If they need to be taken to another doctor
Referral letter
For rehabilitation or follow-up care
Caring for Your Wound at Home
If you have a wound after your treatment, clean it using the following steps.
Wash Your Hands with Soap
Do this before touching the wound.
Clean the Wound
Use sterile gauze and an antiseptic solution or a special solution recommended by your doctor.
Change the Bandage as Scheduled
Follow the schedule you have been given, for example once every two days.
Physical Activity and Rest
What you can do:
- Light, relaxed walking, as advised by your doctor.
- Deep breathing exercises, for patients after heart surgery.
- Light daily activities, for example sweeping gently or preparing simple meals.
What to avoid:
- Lifting more than 5 kg, for patients after surgery.
- Strenuous exercise without consulting your doctor.
- Smoking or drinking alcohol.
Diet
Heart-healthy eating guide:
- Eat small but frequent meals, 5 to 6 times a day, if your appetite has not yet returned.
- Eat more vegetables, fruit, and low-fat protein, such as fish and chicken breast.
- Limit salt to less than 1 teaspoon per day, and limit sugar.
Specific foods to avoid, if they apply to you:
- High-cholesterol foods, such as organ meats and too many egg yolks, for patients with heart disease.
- Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and energy drinks, for patients with arrhythmia.
Managing Your Medications at Home
Use a daily or weekly pill box
So you do not forget to take your medications
Write down your medication schedule
On a calendar or in a phone app
Do not double the dose if you miss a dose
Ask your doctor first
Monitoring Your Own Health
Record the following every day.
Blood pressure
If you have a measuring device
Pulse rate
Normally 60 to 100 beats per minute
Body weight
Watch for a gain of more than 2 kg in a week, as this can be a sign of fluid buildup
Emotional Support
For patients: practice relaxation, for example meditation or listening to music.
For families:
- Encourage the patient to talk about their feelings, and avoid putting too much pressure on them.
- Help remind them of their medication and follow-up visit schedules without blaming them.
First Aid: What the Patient Should Do
A heart emergency needs fast action. If the signs above appear, take the following steps before medical help arrives.
Stop
Stop all activity.
Sit or Lie Down
Get into a half-sitting position.
Chew Aspirin If Available
Chew 1 tablet of 325 mg aspirin.
Call Emergency Services
Call the Heartology Heart Attack Center. The number is on the emergency button on this page.
First Aid: What the Companion Should Do
Do not panic
Note the time the symptoms started
Have the patient's regular medications and latest medical records ready
Help the patient into a comfortable position
Do not give them anything to eat or drink
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Heart recovery takes more than just medication. Heartology provides a cardiac rehabilitation program to help restore your strength, stamina, and quality of life.
What is cardiac rehabilitation? A structured program supervised by a medical team (cardiologists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists) that includes gradual physical exercise, education on a healthy lifestyle, and psychological support.
Benefits for you:
- Improves heart and lung function.
- Reduces the risk of complications.
- Builds your confidence to be active.
Who needs it? Patients after bypass surgery, heart stent placement, or a heart attack, as well as patients with stable heart failure.
Stages of the Rehabilitation Program
Phase 1: In the Hospital
Breathing exercises and light movements in bed, plus education about medications and warning signs.
Phase 2: Supervised, 3 to 6 Weeks
Cardiac exercise sessions 3 times a week at the Heartology Cardiac Rehab Center with ECG monitoring during exercise, plus weekly nutrition consultations.
Phase 3: Independent, 6 Months or More
Home exercise guidance and an online support group.
Recommended Exercises
The rehabilitation team tailors the type of exercise to each patient's condition.
Light to moderate aerobic exercise:
- Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day.
- Stationary cycling at a low speed.
- Freestyle swimming, without holding your breath.
Strength training:
- Lifting small water bottles (500 ml).
- Exercises with an elastic resistance band.
What to avoid:
- Lifting more than 5 kg.
- Competitive sports.
- Saunas or very hot baths.
Education, Counseling, and Rehabilitation Facilities
Education classes:
- Managing Stress for Heart Health
- Understanding Your Heart Medications
- Heart-Friendly Eating
Counseling:
- Individual sessions with a clinical psychologist.
- Experience-sharing groups with fellow heart patients.
Rehabilitation facilities: Heartology Cardiovascular Hospital has an air-conditioned exercise room with specialized equipment, heart monitors that track your heart in real time, and a medical team on standby.
Resources for Patients and Companions
Heartology provides several resources to help patients and families during recovery.
Practical guides:
- Digital book "A Guide to Caring for Heart Patients": how to organize weekly medications, heart-healthy recipes, and emergency first aid techniques.
- Home preparation checklist: arranging a safe room for recovery, a shopping list of healthy foods, and important contacts on one page.
Download at: LINK
Educational videos from the "Sehat Bersama Heartology" series on the Heartology Cardiovascular Hospital YouTube channel:
- How to Measure Your Blood Pressure Correctly (3 minutes)
- Safe Heart Exercises at Home (15 minutes)
- Understanding Your Heart Lab Results (8 minutes)
Digital tools: a heart health calculator to calculate your risk of cardiovascular disease, your ideal BMI, and your daily fluid needs.
Support group, the Heartology Care Community: monthly meetings (online or in person) and webinars with specialist doctors.
Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring Services
You can consult a Heartology cardiologist without having to come to the hospital, both for routine monitoring and for urgent consultations.
Routine virtual consultations: post-surgery follow-up visits, medication reviews, and nutrition consultations.
Remote monitoring: your blood pressure, ECG, and body weight are monitored through connected devices, and the data is recorded directly in the Heartology doctors' system.
24-hour emergency consultations: for urgent symptoms such as chest pain or sudden shortness of breath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I need help after going home?
You can contact the post-discharge service number, which will be given to you before you go home.
Is there a transportation service for patients with limited mobility?
Yes, we provide a special transportation service for patients who need help with mobility. Contact our administration team for more information.
Is the Heartology ER open 24 hours?
Yes, the Heartology Emergency Room (ER) is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Contacting Heartology After You Go Home
- Phone
- 1500 258
- Send a WhatsApp message
Next steps
Need to Schedule a Follow-Up Visit?
A guide for patients and families on preparing for discharge from Heartology: medications, follow-up visit schedules, home care, warning signs to watch for, and cardiac rehabilitation.