The OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation Program was recently awarded Program Certification by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). 

This voluntary three-year certification recognizes programs that have been reviewed by the AACVPR national board and found to have met the rigorous requirements for standards of care. Programs that meet the strict standards for national certification demonstrate a strong commitment to safe processes and procedures and reflect a dedication of the cardiac rehabilitation team to high standards of patient care.

To earn the national certification, OSF Saint Anthony initiated an individualized treatment plan for every patient based on a six-minute walk test and comprehensive evaluation with the nurse.  Each patient is given individualized goals related to diet, weight loss, education and exercise.

The process for prescribing an exercise regimen is based on the patient’s diagnosis, ejection fraction and other physical guidelines. This stratification of risk allows the cardiac rehab staff to specifically individualize the program for duration, workload and progression.

Patient outcomes are related to educational, psychosocial, behavioral and physical benchmarks, and certain standards must be achieved and documented. 

Other AACVPR requirements include annual skill labs for staff, quarterly mock codes, medical director involvement and mandatory weekly educational videos for patients. 

The AACVPR is a national, multi-disciplinary association dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, promotion of scientific inquiry, and advancement of education for the benefit of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.