HSFB considering home-based cardiac rehab
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) is strongly considering home-based cardiac rehabilitation during the present COVID-19 pandemic.
“The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to widespread changes in the way healthcare is being administered worldwide. The practice of social distancing to decrease the likelihood of transmission of coronavirus, means that traditional gym-based rehab programmes are inadvisable, especially since the target demographic are the ones at highest risk for complicated COVID-19,” the HSFB has acknowledged.
“Home-based cardiac rehabilitation is an alternative for administration of cardiac rehabilitation. This form of cardiac rehabilitation may be offered to clients whose ability to come to a rehab centre is limited, either because of transportation or distance from the rehab centre, inability to schedule rehab visits due to employment, or disability. It is a tried and tested alternative approach to in-house cardiac rehab,” the Foundation further noted.
Pointing out that Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is strongly recommended by cardiovascular societal guidelines post cardiac events such as myocardial infarction or bypass surgery, the Heart and Stroke Foundation says evidence suggests that delayed enrolment in cardiac rehabilitation leads to reduced engagement in the CR process.
“With the knowledge that delay in cardiac rehabilitation may be detrimental, then it becomes incumbent upon us to explore alternatives – in this case, home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR).
“The HSFB Cardiac Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation (CDPR) team therefore is working to provide that continuity of care – starting with its Phase 2 clients. Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation starts following discharge from hospital after a cardiac event and continues for around three months. Our initial HBCR clients are patients who were already enrolled in centre-based CR before closure of operations. They had already been assessed, exercise prescriptions and individualised treatment plans developed, and had participated in at least one session in the CDPR gym,” the HSFB further revealed.
In terms of how it would work, the HSFB says that: “Members of the nursing team have communicated with each client, explaining the purpose of the calls, and the importance of maintaining adherence to the programme. They have scheduled weekly telephone appointments, which then proceed according to a very prescriptive approach; and during these ‘appointments’, they discuss goals, vitals, diet, medication, exercise routines as well as overall health and well-being.
“As we monitor the situation in our country with respect to COVID-19, it will likely become necessary to develop protocols to enroll new clients, while maintaining safe practices. These new clients will include patients who were either awaiting assessment at the onset of the lockdown, or have sustained a new cardiac event. We are steadfastly working to serve the needs of our most vulnerable clientele and will be sure to keep you abreast as our plans continue to unfold during this period,” the Foundation indicated.
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