AHA: New Referral Policies Raise Participation by Overcoming Patient, Healthcare-Related Barriers

For patients with cardiovascular disease, participation in cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs (CR/SPPs) can be enhanced by overcoming patient and health care system-related barriers, and implementing new methods and policies for referral and enrollment, according to an American Heart Association policy statement published online in Circulation.

Gary J. Balady, M.D., from Boston University, and colleagues investigated barriers to referral and enrollment in CR/SPPs, and provided recommendations for enhancing the quality of and participation in CR/SPPs.

"Preventing secondary cardiac events is an essential part of the care for patients with cardiovascular disease," the authors write.

Read more at: http://www.physiciansbriefing.com/Article.asp?AID=658975

Source: HealthDay; American Heart Association