Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an evidence-based, structured and progressive exercise program that is considered standard of care and recommended for all patients after a major heart-related event, like a heart attack or heart-related surgery. As a result, this program reduces risk of death in patients and promotes the adoption and adherence of healthy behaviors.

However, less than 20% of eligible patients attend and complete a full course of cardiac rehab due to the following barriers:

•  Referral by Physician
• Access to CR facility
• Poor attendance - due to busy work schedules, needing to obtain healthcare, etc.
• Sustained Behavioral Change

With Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation (virtual CR), this is a program and solution that can improve patient access, engagement and clinical outcomes. For patients, they have the ability to schedule and perform their sessions of rehab at their own convenience from any location. Patients are provided real-time coaching and video monitoring with an exercise physiologist with no exercise equipment. They are required to wear and provided a BP cuff and heart rate monitor during each session for vital monitoring by a clinician, working from a remote setting. 

PCDC has taken steps to further develop a superior, virtual CR solution by conducting various studies to aid in the design of future, optimal rehab strategies for patients. Click on the studies below to learn more.

• Feasibility Study
• VIRT-CR
• IMPACT-CR