Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is a key part of heart disease and stroke care. Rehabilitation can prevent second heart attacks/strokes, improve function, reduce depression, and help people have a better quality of life. However, we know that less than a third of people who have a heart attack or stroke use rehabilitation services.

Rehabilitation is key part of heart disease and stroke care

One of the objectives of the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is to increase the number of people who get cardiac and stroke rehabilitation. In 2008, we assessed rehabilitation resources to find out why people don’t use them.

Reasons for low participation:

Patients don’t understand how rehabilitation can help.
Doctors don’t refer patients.
Reimbursement too low or not available.
Lack of coordinated care, especially for stroke rehabilitation.
Limited services, especially in rural areas.
Lack of transportation.
Workforce shortages.
Limited professional education available.

Some solutions:

Educate the public and health care providers on the benefits of rehabilitation.
Automatic referral systems.
Provide services via telemedicine.
Expand medical and allied-health education programs.
Address reimbursement issues.
Convene an advisory group to pursue solutions, including the Northwest Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American Heart/American Stroke Association .
Develop and distribute a comprehensive directory of rehabilitation services.

For more information:

Emergency Cardiac & Stroke Response

Public Education

Washington Patient Centered Medical Home Collaborative

Get With The Guidelines

Rehabilitation

Emergency Cardiac & Stroke System

Related Information:

American Heart Association

American Stroke Association

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

National Stroke Association