Implementation of strict universal safety precautions and telehealth options resulted in zero COVID-19 cases traced back to the center-based cardiac rehabilitation setting over 16,000 session hours.
Inclusive telehealth and modified on-site cardiac rehabilitation protocols can safely provide uninterrupted access to essential preventive heart care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged how and whether patients with heart disease are able to safely access center-based exercise training and cardiac rehabilitation (CR). This commentary provides an experience-based overview of how one health system quickly developed and applied inclusive policies to allow patients to have safe and effective access to exercise-based CR.
Iterson et al. (Wed,) conducted a editorial in Heart disease requiring cardiac rehabilitation. On-site cardiac rehabilitation with COVID-19 safety precautions and telehealth options was evaluated on COVID-19 positive cases traced back to the center-based CR setting. Implementation of strict universal safety precautions and telehealth options resulted in zero COVID-19 cases traced back to the center-based cardiac rehabilitation setting over 16,000 session hours.