A Study of Cardiac Rehabilitation Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Outcomes

Open to people ages 18 years and up

• Indication for CR according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines (diagnosed within the preceding 12 months) to include one or more of the following:
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Coronary artery bypass surgery
  • Current stable angina (chest pain)
  • Heart valve repair or replacement
  • Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary stenting
  • Heart or heart-lung transplant
  • Stable chronic heart failure
• Receiving care at one of the participating CR centers
• Age ≥18 years
• Basic Internet navigation skills
• Active email address
• Access to Internet at home or public access (church, library, etc) for 3 virtual visits per week

• High risk patients according to the AACVPR risk stratification44 given safety concern of unsupervised exercise
  • Patients receiving continuous inotropic support
  • Recent receipt of a mechanical support device
  • Presence of hemodynamically unstable dysrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia)
  • Decompensated heart failure
  • Symptomatic valvular heart disease
  • Uncontrolled angina
• Pregnancy (due to associated hormonal and weight changes) per patient report
• Receiving continuous inotropic support
• Presence of a mechanical circulatory support device
• Decompensated heart failure
• Symptomatic valvular heart disease
• Uncontrolled angina
• Presence of hemodynamically unstable dysrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia) given safety concern of unsupervised exercise
• Visual/hearing impairment or mental disability that would preclude independent use of the VW platform
• Non-English-speaking patients due to logistical challenges with real time translation over a virtual platform
• Currently participating in a cardiac rehab program