Cardiac rehabilitation resources for healthcare providers
Useful cardiac rehabilitation resources for health professionals.
Key takeaways
- Research has shown that cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) improves cardiac risk factor profile, reduce hospital readmissions and improve quality of life.
- To deliver an effective cardiac rehab service with optimal patient outcomes, health providers must ensure that they deliver evidence-based, high quality content and exercise prescription and consistently assess the impact of these interventions.
- A Pathway to Cardiac Recovery: Standardised program content for Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation gives service providers a guide to deliver high-quality, evidence-based cardiac rehab programs.
The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) are well established. Cardiac rehab gives your patients personalised support, guidance and intervention to assist their recovery and support long-term lifestyle changes.
Research has shown that cardiac rehab improves cardiac risk factor profile, reduces hospital readmissions and improves quality of life. As a result, the Heart Foundation strongly recommends that all Australians are referred to and attend a cardiac rehab program after a heart event.
Evidence-based program guide for cardiac rehabilitation
To deliver an effective cardiac rehabilitation service with positive patient outcomes, health providers must ensure the information offered in their program is based upon best available evidence.In 2019, an evidence-based and consensus-led standardised program of content for phase II cardiac rehab was developed for cardiac rehab providers. Download the Development of standardised programme content for phase II cardiac rehabilitation programmes in Australia using a modified Delphi process by Cartledge et al.
A Pathway to Cardiac Recovery: Standardised program content for Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation gives cardiac rehab service providers a guide to deliver standardised, high-quality, evidence-based cardiac rehabilitation programs either in person, or via telehealth or mobile health.
Newly agreed cardiac rehabilitation quality indicators
In early 2020, a set of locally relevant and internationally recognised National Cardiac Rehabilitation Quality Indicators was published. The aim was to evaluate existing standards of care, identify opportunities for quality improvement and compare the performance of Australian cardiac rehabilitation programs to international standards.
These indicators will support healthcare providers to identify barriers and opportunities to increase cardiac rehab referral; improve delivery processes and patient outcomes; and help inform development of best practice and alternative models of service provision.
To find out what data your program should be collecting, download the National Cardiac Rehabilitation Quality Indicators.
To find out about the National Cardiac Rehabilitation Quality Indicator Development Process read Cardiac Rehabilitation Quality in Australia: Proposed National Indicators for Field Testing.
How can I encourage my patients to attend cardiac rehabilitation?
As an effective intervention with short- and long-term benefit, cardiac rehab is an opportunity to support your patients’ recovery. The Heart Foundation has created several resources to help clinicians refer and encourage patients to attend an appropriate cardiac rehab program.Cardiac Rehab Advocacy contains resources to help healthcare professionals advocate the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation to patients and promote cardiac rehab and heart failure services in their local area to increase participation rates.
Cardiac Rehab patient support resources contain educational videos and resources for patients to better understand and manage their heart condition.
Cardiac Services Directory gives a comprehensive list of cardiac rehab services across Australia so you can identify a local service to refer your patients to. Alternately, you can call the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 12 to find local cardiac rehab services.
Visit our Cardiac Rehabilitation Patient Resource page for more information to promote cardiac rehab to patients.
Heart Foundation and Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) Position Statement on telehealth and cardiac rehabilitation
Participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program is a critical step in a person’s recovery from their heart attack or heart event. The Heart Foundation and the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association have developed a new position statement about the ongoing role of telehealth in cardiac rehabilitation service delivery.To find out more, see the Position Statement on telehealth and cardiac rehabilitation, or download it here.
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2047487320913379
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26442971/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2047487320913379
- Cartledge S, Thomas E
- Cartledge S, Thomas E, Hollier K, et al. Development of standardised programme content for phase II cardiac rehabilitation programmes in Australia using a modified Delphi process. BMJ Open 2019;9:e032279. doi:10.1136/bmjopen2019-032279
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation programs and resources to support your recovery....
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Our range of clinical and patient support resources are available for you to use in your daily practice....
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Sign up now and discover delicious, easy to follow dinner recipes. Plus shopping lists, tips and other helpful information to make healthy eating easy. ...
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join the Heart Foundation community. Together, we can make a real difference for Australian hearts. ...
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Together, we can make heart disease history. Donate today to help fund ground-breaking heart research and keep families together this Christmas. ...
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Clinical information for diagnosis and management of hypertension....
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Information to help you adjust to what could be the 'new normal'...
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Explore how to manage your financial concerns after a heart attack. ...
Active Living NSW
Active Living NSW
Active Living NSW
Active Living NSW supports physical activity and healthy built environments in NSW ...
Atrial fibrillation resources for patients
Atrial fibrillation resources for patients
General Practitioner Survey 2020
General Practitioner Survey 2020
This survey has been designed to collect feedback from general practitioners about their awareness and use of Heart Foundation materials....
Is salt bad for your heart?
Is salt bad for your heart?
Is salt bad for your heart?
Most Australians are eating more than the recommended amounts and this can cause health problems....
Salad recipes
Salad recipes
Salad recipes
Search through our tasty salad recipes...
Help others in need through a gift in your Will
Help others in need through a gift in your Will
Help others in need through a gift in your Will
Ian “did not hesitate” to leave 100% of his estate to the Heart Foundation....
Healthy Food Access Tasmania
Healthy Food Access Tasmania
Healthy Food Access Tasmania
We've been working on several projects with local governments across Tasmania, big and small....
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Information and resources for health professionals....
Remember a loved one with a tribute
Remember a loved one with a tribute
Remember a loved one with a tribute
Honour the life of a loved one with a donation to the Heart Foundation. Your donation offers hope for Australian hearts....
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
Information and resources for health care professionals....
Leaving a gift in your Will: A lasting legacy
Leaving a gift in your Will: A lasting legacy
Leaving a gift in your Will: A lasting legacy
One of the most powerful ways to help support a future without heart disease is to include a gift to the Heart Foundation in your Will...
What is coronary heart disease?
What is coronary heart disease?
What is coronary heart disease?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease occurs when a coronary artery clogs and narrows because of a buildup of plaque....
What is an arrhythmia?
What is an arrhythmia?
What is an arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is a fault in the heart’s electrical system, which affects your heart’s pumping rhythm....
State based advocacy
State based advocacy
State based advocacy activity supporting local communities...
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Find heart healthy beef recipes....
Heart attack recovery – quit smoking
Heart attack recovery – quit smoking
Heart attack recovery – quit smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. Get the facts on quitting and how it can help you recover. ...
Fats, oils and heart health
Fats, oils and heart health
Fats, oils and heart health
Get the right balance of healthy fats in your diet ...
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Nutrition information panels and ingredients lists are a good way of comparing similar foods so you can choose the healthiest option....