L-R: Fiona Beadle, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Terri Guy, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Sam Gorge, Exercise Physiologist.
In what’s claimed to be an Australian-first, a virtual program for cardiac rehabilitation has been launched for at-risk patients in Melbourne.
The Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation (VCR) Program set up by Northern Health will be a more convenient alternative to hospital and community clinic-based cardiac rehab programs for patients who have had a recent cardiac event or are at high risk of developing coronary heart disease, its developers say.
The VCR program will provide up to six weeks of online healthcare professional-directed exercise, education and psychological support similar to face-to-face programs, but via a health website and using technology such as smartwatches.
“Patients use an app and smartwatch that send reminders to exercise, and their activity data is then sent to their care team. During weekly or fortnightly phone calls with the cardiac nurse or cardiac team, patients can receive feedback on their progress and ask questions or raise concerns,” said Terri Guy, Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Nurse Consultant at Northern Health.
She said it made sense to offer more flexible access to cardiac rehab programs because they are proven to reduce hospitalisation and reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular conditions.
“Patients are able to participate in the virtual program at a time more suitable and that better integrates with their home and work routine. It also assists with reducing transportation and eliminates travel barriers,” she said.
As with a conventional cardiac rehab program, the service is run by a multidisciplinary team including a specialist cardiac trained nurse, physiotherapist or exercise physiologist.
The virtual rehab service provides patients with an individually designed program that aims to optimise cardiovascular function, improve self-management and decrease risk of further cardiac events.
The idea for a virtual program was developed by Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Nurse Consultant Fiona Beadle, who submitted a proposal to trial it to the Northern Health Executive team.
“Not long afterwards, the CLEO [Clinical Leadership, Effectiveness and Outcomes] team approached the Cardiac Rehabilitation team to discuss using Northern Health’s My Health platform to deliver a virtual cardiac rehab program,” she said.
“The timing was perfect. Clinicians and managers from the Community Therapy Service, Cardiac Rehabilitation and CLEO have been meeting regularly to develop a program that meets the needs of consumers and clinicians.”
Elisha O’Dowd, Effectiveness and Outcomes Manager, CLEO, said the service was a wonderful way to showcase the amazing work that the Cardiac Rehabilitation team do on a daily basis.
“This gives us the opportunity to reach patients who are not available for regular daytime appointments,” she said.