Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR)

Program Overview

InterMountain Medical Clinic (IMMC), in partnership with Pritikin ICR, offers a comprehensive, medically supervised Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation (ICR) program for patients recovering from major cardiac events or procedures.

ICR provides 72 sessions, delivering twice the therapy of traditional cardiac rehabilitation by combining supervised exercise and structured lifestyle education at every visit. Traditional programs typically include 36 exercise sessions with limited education about lifestyle modifications like nutrition and stress management.

Approved by Medicare and most commercial insurers, ICR equips patients with the education, tools, and support needed to improve cardiovascular health and promote long-term lifestyle change. A provider referral is required for enrollment.

What Is Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation?

ICR expands on traditional cardiac rehabilitation by integrating exercise, nutrition, and mental well-being into a whole-person approach that targets modifiable risk factors and helps reduce the likelihood of future cardiac events.

Each session includes up to one hour of monitored exercise followed by personalized education delivered one-on-one or in small groups. Weekly education features live cooking classes using heart-healthy recipes that patients can sample and recreate at home.

The program typically runs over 12 weeks, with several sessions per week, for a total of 72 sessions.

The Three Pillars of the Pritikin Program

The Pritikin Program is built on three core components:

1. Regular Exercise

• Improve cardiovascular endurance
• Increase strength and flexibility
• Enhance overall health

2. Healthy Eating Plan

• Prepare affordable, satisfying meals
• Manage weight effectively
• Learn nutrition label reading
• Simplify cooking and dining out

3. Healthy Mindset

• Manage stress and emotions
• Improve relationships
• Set achievable goals
• Quit smoking

Is Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Right for Me?

You may be eligible for ICR if you have experienced:

• Heart attack
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Heart failure
• Heart or heart-lung transplant
• Heart valve procedures
• Stable angina
• Stent placement

Participation should begin as soon as medically appropriate. After major surgery, patients may start within one month, while those with stent placement may begin within the same week.

Benefits of ICR

While both traditional and intensive cardiac rehabilitation improve heart health, Pritikin ICR is supported by extensive research demonstrating improvements in:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels (including LDL and triglycerides)
• Inflammation
• Weight management

What to Expect

Following a referral, patients attend an initial appointment where the care team will:

• Review medical history and medications
• Complete surveys related to diet, quality of life, and mental health
• Perform a six-minute walk test to establish a baseline

These assessments guide personalized goal setting and progress tracking throughout the program.

Patients work with a multidisciplinary team that includes Dr. Blaine Olsen (Medical Director), Lisa Bosworth, PA-C (Healthy Mindset Instructor), Jeff Thomson (Program Manager/Exercise Physiologist), Wendy Stubbs (Registered Dietitian/Licensed Dietitian), Erin Steadman (Physical Therapist), and Mike and Marilyn Clark (Cooking Class Instructors). Educational content is delivered through in-person sessions and livestreamed instruction. All care is documented in the electronic medical record to ensure coordination with the patient’s cardiologist, surgeon, and primary care provider.

What Participants Will Learn

Participants gain practical skills to:

• Exercise safely and effectively
• Prepare heart-healthy, affordable meals
• Shop smart and dine out wisely
• Achieve sustainable weight loss
• Quit smoking
• Manage stress
• Improve relationships
• Develop a positive, resilient mindset

Meet the Team

Blaine Olsen DO, dipABLM

Dr. Olsen is Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and has been practicing Family Medicine at InterMountain Medical Clinic since 2012. He sees patients of all ages, from pediatric to geriatric. Holistic care is a major theme of his practice. His initial interest in medicine stemmed from experiences as a patient. Excellent doctors at Primary Children’s Medical Center cured his childhood cancer, diagnosed at age 6. At age 20, a broken bone led to an emergency room visit where the care was lack-luster. These experiences help him see medicine from both the patient and doctor point of view.

After developing an auto-immune illness in 2017 he became driven to understand the root cause of his auto-immune illness to prevent recurrence or development of new auto-immune conditions. His research led him to the common pathway of inflammation in development of most chronic diseases and to the field of lifestyle medicine which focuses on reduction of chronic inflammation through six pillars of health as outlined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. These pillars are healthy eating with a whole food plant-predominant diet, regular physical activity, sleep optimization, stress management, positive social connections, and avoidance of risky substances like tobacco, alcohol, and opioids.

The opposite is also true. Poor adherence to these lifestyle principles is in large part driving the rapid increase in and progression of these same chronic illnesses through promotion of chronic inflammation.

Practicing Family Medicine with a focus on lifestyle interventions, Dr. Olsen works with patients to understand the root causes of their medical problems and empowers them with information that can transform illness and debility into health, vitality, and peak human performance. He is accepting new patients in Pocatello and offers telehealth appointments anywhere in Idaho.

Dr. Olsen can be found spending time with his wife and 5 children. They like to explore and enjoy the world in all 4 seasons.

Lisa Bosworth, PA-C

Lisa Bosworth is a Physician Assistant with close to 20 years of clinical experience in the fields of family practice, geriatrics, urgent care, vascular medicine and women’s health. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Idaho State University in Dietetics before pursuing her Master’s Degree as a Physician Assistant also at Idaho State University. Lisa competed in Track and Field as well as Cross Country during her time at ISU and has continued a routine fitness plan by participating in triathlons and spending time in the outdoors. She has a strong interest in life-long learning and enjoys engaging with patients in various teaching modules within the Intensive Cardiac Rehab program.

Jeff Thomson

Jeff is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist with a strong passion for helping people improve their health through safe, effective movement. He earned his degree in exercise physiology from Brigham Young University–Idaho and a master’s degree in sport and exercise science from the University of Northern Colorado. He is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Jeff has several years of experience in clinical and wellness settings, including nearly four years at St. Luke’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Twin Falls. In September 2025, he joined InterMountain Medical Clinic to help develop an Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program for the Pocatello community. Jeff enjoys supporting patients as they build confidence, strength, and long-term heart health.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family and friends while staying active outdoors through hunting, fishing, hiking, exercising, and camping. He married his high school sweetheart and is the proud father of three daughters who enrich his life.

Wendy Stubbs

Wendy has been a Registered Dietitian for 22 years, 20 years of that in Idaho. She is board certified in Gerontological Nutrition. She loves cooking, hiking and spending time with her family.