Cardiac Rehabilitation Is Essential in the COVID-19 Era: DELIVERING UNINTERRUPTED HEART CARE BASED ON THE CLEVELAND CLINIC EXPERIENCE

Abstract

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.

Figure.

Social distancing and physical spacing of exercise equipment ≥6 ft apart constrain how gym space can be used for offering patient access to center-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR). This schematic illustrates how staged reactivation of on-site CR for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services–eligible patients can be effectively implemented to prioritize patient access to center-based care. Abbreviations: CCHS, Cleveland Clinic Health System; ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; PPM, permanent pacemaker insertion. This figure is available in color online (www.jcrpjournal.com).