Standards in cardiac rehabilitation

    Authors

    Keywords

    cardiac rehabilitation, standards

    DOI

    https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.417

    Full Text

    The core components and goals of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are standardized, but the structure, duration and type of programs differ considerably in different countries, depending on national guidelines and standards, legal and financial factors. ( 1 , 2 ) In Croatia, there are standards of approval of CR and general standards and norms of space requirements, equipment and personnel for performing medical activities, but there are no standards of structure, duration and manner of implementation of CR. The goals of introducing and adhering to standards in CR are to ensure the clinical and cost effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, and the achievement of sustainable and optimal health outcomes for patients. CR facilities standard components are structural (space, equipment, staff) and procedural. We need better regulations of indications and contraindications for CR, standardized rehabilitation timing and services through early acute hospital intervention, post-acute rehabilitation and long-term outpatient programs, with planned larger proportion of rehabilitated patients. It is important that CR is well-structured, performed in a safe, functional and efficient environment, in convenient and well-utilized space, with suitable and maintained equipment, considering the reduction and control of environmental hazards and compliance with safety requirements. Well-educated staff is one of the most important prerequisites for a good implementation of CR services. In addition to the programme director and the multidisciplinary team, it is important to have crisis management staff and protocols as well as available consultant specialists. Patient data and the course of CR should be standardized, with written protocols and clearly set goals, intervention plan and communication methods, final assessment. In this way, the prerequisites for outcomes measuring, reduction of non-compliance, services quality improvement and finally, the improvement of short-term and long-term outcomes are achieved. Other factors such as cost analysis, the role of patient associations, the role of primary health care, local and regional administration and the role of national health policy should be considered in the planning and implementation of the CR. Standards in CR can be over time and revised and changed.

    Cardiologia Croatica
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    Standards in cardiac rehabilitation

    Extended Abstract
    Issue11-12
    Published
    Pages417
    PDF via DOIhttps://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.417
    cardiac rehabilitation
    standards

    Authors

    Duško Cerovec*ORCIDFaculty of Medicine in Osijek Osijek, Croatia
    Nenad LakušićORCIDFaculty of Medicine in Osijek Osijek, Croatia
    Dora CerovecORCIDFaculty of Medicine in Osijek Osijek, Croatia

    Full Text

    The core components and goals of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are standardized, but the structure, duration and type of programs differ considerably in different countries, depending on national guidelines and standards, legal and financial factors. ( 1 , 2 ) In Croatia, there are standards of approval of CR and general standards and norms of space requirements, equipment and personnel for performing medical activities, but there are no standards of structure, duration and manner of implementation of CR. The goals of introducing and adhering to standards in CR are to ensure the clinical and cost effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, and the achievement of sustainable and optimal health outcomes for patients. CR facilities standard components are structural (space, equipment, staff) and procedural. We need better regulations of indications and contraindications for CR, standardized rehabilitation timing and services through early acute hospital intervention, post-acute rehabilitation and long-term outpatient programs, with planned larger proportion of rehabilitated patients. It is important that CR is well-structured, performed in a safe, functional and efficient environment, in convenient and well-utilized space, with suitable and maintained equipment, considering the reduction and control of environmental hazards and compliance with safety requirements. Well-educated staff is one of the most important prerequisites for a good implementation of CR services. In addition to the programme director and the multidisciplinary team, it is important to have crisis management staff and protocols as well as available consultant specialists. Patient data and the course of CR should be standardized, with written protocols and clearly set goals, intervention plan and communication methods, final assessment. In this way, the prerequisites for outcomes measuring, reduction of non-compliance, services quality improvement and finally, the improvement of short-term and long-term outcomes are achieved. Other factors such as cost analysis, the role of patient associations, the role of primary health care, local and regional administration and the role of national health policy should be considered in the planning and implementation of the CR. Standards in CR can be over time and revised and changed.