In mid-2020, the Queensland Country Care Navigation team in partnership with Cardihab introduced a new phase 2 Cardiac Rehab Program for eligible Members, 45 years and over, who have had a cardiac related admission to hospital. The program provides Members with a home-based cardiac rehabilitation service, to help them reach optimal health when at risk of, or living with, heart disease.
The team use a scientifically validated# solution via a smartphone app in conjunction with weekly phone calls from one of our dedicated Care Navigation nurses to deliver a more convenient, flexible and engaging cardiac rehabilitation program. Eligible Members receive education and support from the comfort of your own home. The program has demonstrated to increase uptake, adherence and completion rates1, which means better outcomes for patients.
To provide supervised exercise and fitness assesments our Care Navigation team use Accredited Exercise Physiologists or Physiotherapists and for Cardiac Rehabilitation nutrition advice Accredited Dietitians. The smartphone app is supplied by Cardihab Pty Ltd ABN 20 610 971 910.
Who is Cardihab?
Cardihab is an Australian digital health company that exists to help patients reach optimal health when at risk of, or living with, heart disease.
Cardihab is registered on the Australian Registry of Therapeutic Goods as a Class 1 Medical Device, ARTG No: 340440.
As part of the program, the Member receives weekly education that is personalised to their risk factors and includes safe exercise and emotional support for successful completion of SmartCR (Cardiac Rehabilitation). Some examples of the program’s weekly education include:
Week 1
- Learn about your health condition
- Driving restrictions
- Blood pressure monitoring
- How your heart works
- What is a heart attack?
Week 2
- Resuming exercise
- Goal setting
- Managing stress
Week 3
- Healthy heart diet
- Relaxation techniques
- Smoking and your heart
- Emotional and social support
Week 4
- Risk factors for heart disease
- Alcohol and your heart
Week 5
- Cholesterol
- High blood pressure
Week 6
- Managing a healthy heart lifestyle
“Really happy with the Cardihab app, and the advice has been really good. We have learnt a lot. Really impressed with the attention: phone support and organising extra services. I felt a bit lost about my prognosis at the beginning, but now I know so much more. And more confidence about my heart health.”
M. & B. Jensen, Mt Pleasant
Who can benefit from the Cardiac Rehab Program?
The National Heart Foundation of Australia2 has defined the patients with the following as eligible for Cardiac Rehabilitation.
1. Acute Myocardial Infarction Both ST elevation and non-ST elevation; including patients with and without post-MI revascularisation, eg those medically-managed only.
2. Revascularisation Procedures including coronary artery bypass graft surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions.
3. Coronary Artery Disease Medically-managed coronary artery disease (CAD), such as stable angina.
4. Cardiovascular Disability Particularly heart failure and cardiomyopathy diseases.
5. Heart Devices/Transplants Valve device, replacement and repair, permanent pacemaker and implantable defibrillator insertions. Heart transplant and ventricular assist devices.
6. Recent evidence has shown Cardiac Rehabilitation may also be of benefit to patients with:
- Atrial Fibrillation
- High risk for coronary artery disease
- Other vascular or heart diseases and interventions
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia
"Great Service which has helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life. With great and caring support, I now understand my heart condition and I am empowered to manage and improve my heart health and regain my quality of life. My Cardiologist is ‘over-the-moon’, that I have had cardiac rehabilitation and that I have learnt how to manage my cardiac condition.”
N. Oswin, Ingham
Find out if Cardiac Rehabilitation is right for you, or learn more about our Care Navigation here.
#Based on a Randomised Control Trial undertaken in Brisbane by researchers from CSIRO and funded by a Joint Venture between the Australian eHealth Research Centre and Queensland Health.
1. Varnfield M, Karunanithi M, Lee C, et alSmartphonebased home care model improved use of cardiac rehabilitation in postmyocardial infarction patients: results from a randomised controlled trialHeart 2014;100:1770 1779.
2. Woodruffe S, et al. Australian CardiovascularHealth and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) Core Components of Cardiovascular Disease Secondary Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation 2014. Heart, Lung and Circulation (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. hlc.2014.12.008