Medical Director Responsibilities for Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation/Secondary Prevention Programs

Abstract

Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation/secondary preventionprograms are characterized by comprehensive services, including medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, and car-diovascular disease risk factor modification through evidence-based pharmacological management of risk factors and behavioral interventions. This multifactorial process is designed to limit the adverse physiological and psychological effects of cardiac illness, to reduce the risk of sudden death or reinfarction, to control cardiac symptoms, to stabilize or reverse the atherosclerotic process, and to enhance the pa-tient’s psychosocial and vocational status.1 Provision of these services is physician directed and implemented by a team of healthcare professionals that may include nurses, exercise physiologists, dietitians, health educators, behavioral medi-cine specialists, and other healthcare professionals.2 Appropriate patient/physician interaction during cardiac