EECP for Orem Residents: What to Know Before the Drive

The commute (approximate)

Take I-15 north from the University Parkway or 800 North interchange through Lindon, Pleasant Grove, American Fork and Lehi, then over Point of the Mountain into Draper. Exit at 12300 South, go east, and follow Draper Parkway. Plan on 30 minutes with light traffic and 40 or more at commute times.

By FrontRunner. Orem Central station sits near Utah Valley University. Trains run north through Lehi to Draper. FrontRunner's Draper station (12997 S. FrontRunner Blvd.) is about three miles west of the clinic. UTA Route 126 and UTA On Demand South Valley both serve the FrontRunner station and Draper Town Center, so you can connect without a car. FrontRunner runs Monday through Saturday only.

The schedule, honestly

The standard EECP course used in research is 35 one-hour sessions, typically five days a week for about seven weeks. From Orem, that adds up to roughly an hour of round-trip driving per visit on top of the session itself. That is a real commitment, and we would rather you know it up front.

Here is how Orem patients usually handle it:

• Booking mid-day appointments to avoid the worst I-15 traffic
• Carpooling with a spouse or adult child, sometimes trading driving days
• Combining sessions with errands or appointments in the south valley
• Talking with us about whether a modified schedule is reasonable for their situation

Orem's heart care landscape

Timpanogos Regional Hospital, part of MountainStar Healthcare, is in Orem. Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in neighboring Provo is the region's largest heart center, and Intermountain American Fork Hospital is just north. Many Orem residents see cardiologists at one or more of these. Thrive EECP is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Please talk with your doctor about whether EECP makes sense for you.

What EECP does

During each session, pressure cuffs on your calves, thighs and buttocks inflate as your heart relaxes, sending more blood back toward the heart, and deflate just before your heart pumps so it works against less resistance. Over a full course, research suggests this may improve blood vessel function and encourage small collateral vessels to develop.

The FDA has cleared EECP for chronic stable angina and certain heart failure patients. Many patients in studies report fewer chest pain episodes and better stamina. Results vary and EECP is not a cure. It works alongside your medications and your cardiologist's plan.

A thought on altitude and activity

Orem sits at roughly 4,800 feet, with Mount Timpanogos rising to the northeast. Many residents enjoy walking the Provo River Parkway, hiking the foothills, or simply getting around Scera Park. If chest pain or shortness of breath now limits those activities, that is useful information to bring to a consultation, along with a sense of what you would most like to get back to.

What to expect at a first visit

We review your health history, any procedures you have had, and your current medications. We explain how sessions work and what the research does and does not show. If EECP looks appropriate, we plan a schedule with you. If something in your history makes it a poor fit, we'll say so plainly.

Who should not have EECP

EECP is not appropriate for everyone. People with certain irregular heart rhythms, significant aortic valve leakage (aortic insufficiency), a recent blood clot in the legs, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe peripheral artery disease, or who are pregnant may not be candidates. We review your history and medications before you begin.

Treatment takes place only at our clinic at 1111 E. Draper Parkway, Suite 118, Draper, UT 84020. We do not have an office in Orem.