Medical director responsibilities for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2012 update: a statement for health care professionals from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American Heart Association

Circulation. 2012 Nov 20;126(21):2535-43. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e318277728c. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Abstract

Medical directors of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention (CR/SP) programs are responsible for the safe and effective delivery of high-quality CR/SP services to eligible patients. Yet, the training and resources for CR/SP medical directors are limited. As a result, there appears to be considerable variability throughout CR/SP programs in the United States in the roles, responsibilities, and engagement of CR/SP medical directors. Since the publication of the 2005 scientific statement from the American Heart Association and American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation regarding medical director responsibilities for outpatient CR/SP programs, significant changes have occurred. This statement updates the responsibilities of CR/SP medical directors, in view of changes in federal legislation and regulations and changes in health care delivery and clinical practice that impact the roles and responsibilities of CR/SP medical directors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care / methods
  • Ambulatory Care / standards*
  • American Heart Association*
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Health Personnel / standards*
  • Humans
  • Physician Executives / standards*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards
  • Secondary Prevention / methods
  • Secondary Prevention / standards*
  • Societies, Medical / standards
  • United States / epidemiology