Dr. Randal J. Thomas

In fact, if you look at any outcome you can look at, you can find research to show benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in those outcomes. But one of them is adherence to medication. We did a study here a few years ago, and we looked at adherence to important medications after a heart attack, like beta blockers and aspirin and cholesterol medication and so forth. things that help you to do better.

In fact, if you look at any outcome you can look at, you can find research to show benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in those outcomes. But one of them is adherence to medication. We did a study here a few years ago, and we looked at adherence to important medications after a heart attack, like beta blockers and aspirin and cholesterol medication and so forth. things that help you to do better.

And we found, and this was among a group of patients that had insurance, they had a good coverage, they had good care and 34% continued to take all of their medications at three years, 34%. Um, The only thing that predicted better adherence was if they participated in cardiac rehabilitation. And a few studies have found this now. And it just, it makes sense.

And we found, and this was among a group of patients that had insurance, they had a good coverage, they had good care and 34% continued to take all of their medications at three years, 34%. Um, The only thing that predicted better adherence was if they participated in cardiac rehabilitation. And a few studies have found this now. And it just, it makes sense.

You know, for those of us who work in the field, you know, you see patients, they're coming in, they don't have the right medications. So you help them get on them. Or they're on medications and they're having side effects. And instead of them stopping them, you help them get on the right doses as you communicate with the providers, the primary providers.

You know, for those of us who work in the field, you know, you see patients, they're coming in, they don't have the right medications. So you help them get on them. Or they're on medications and they're having side effects. And instead of them stopping them, you help them get on the right doses as you communicate with the providers, the primary providers.

So there's definitely a lot of communication going back and forth. And one of the key things, I think, to cardiac rehabilitation is a communication link.

So there's definitely a lot of communication going back and forth. And one of the key things, I think, to cardiac rehabilitation is a communication link.

Typically it's 36 sessions. It's three per week for 12 weeks generally. But some programs is a little bit less than that. And some do a little bit more.

Typically it's 36 sessions. It's three per week for 12 weeks generally. But some programs is a little bit less than that. And some do a little bit more.

That's a good question. And that's a whole topic in and of itself, too. We'll talk about that. So home-based rehabilitation is an option. And so it's basically a three-month program is one way to look at it. So if you're coming into the center-based program, you come in three times a week for 12 weeks.

That's a good question. And that's a whole topic in and of itself, too. We'll talk about that. So home-based rehabilitation is an option. And so it's basically a three-month program is one way to look at it. So if you're coming into the center-based program, you come in three times a week for 12 weeks.

a home-based program, you would do home-based rehabilitation with some connections, either by phone or video, sometimes in person. And you do that also for about a 12-week period.

a home-based program, you would do home-based rehabilitation with some connections, either by phone or video, sometimes in person. And you do that also for about a 12-week period.

Yeah, so another good question. Medicare, as it's reviewed all of the data, And the data is in all fields of medicine. It's not complete, of course. We can always have more. But based on Medicare's review, they determined that for seven conditions, 36 sessions would be covered. So the 12-week, 36 sessions, they would cover it. So it's the same coverage for all the conditions.

Yeah, so another good question. Medicare, as it's reviewed all of the data, And the data is in all fields of medicine. It's not complete, of course. We can always have more. But based on Medicare's review, they determined that for seven conditions, 36 sessions would be covered. So the 12-week, 36 sessions, they would cover it. So it's the same coverage for all the conditions.

So it's, as you would imagine, heart attack, stenting, bypass surgery, bowel surgery, transplant, heart failure, and angina, stable angina. They also cover it for peripheral disease, the PAD, the disease in the legs. But anyway, they cover the same program. Each program is individualized. So say a bypass surgery patient comes in for the first six weeks.

So it's, as you would imagine, heart attack, stenting, bypass surgery, bowel surgery, transplant, heart failure, and angina, stable angina. They also cover it for peripheral disease, the PAD, the disease in the legs. But anyway, they cover the same program. Each program is individualized. So say a bypass surgery patient comes in for the first six weeks.

They're doing things a little differently than someone who's had a heart attack and had a stent put in. And someone with surgery who had their chest opened as part of the procedure, their sternum is going to be healing over several weeks. So we make sure we help them through their recovery in a different way than, say, a heart attack patient would be doing.

They're doing things a little differently than someone who's had a heart attack and had a stent put in. And someone with surgery who had their chest opened as part of the procedure, their sternum is going to be healing over several weeks. So we make sure we help them through their recovery in a different way than, say, a heart attack patient would be doing.