Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a multi-session program for patients who have had a cardiac-related event or procedure, such as having stable angina or undergone bypass. The program helps patients recover quicker and prevent future heart attacks or stroke.

Although cardiac rehab has been proven to have multiple health benefits, only 24% of adults with Medicare in the U.S. report participating in the program, and only 27% have completed the recommended 36 sessions.

Cardiac rehab has been proven to reduce:

• Death from all causes by 13-24%
• Death from cardiac causes by 26-31%
• Hospitalizations by 31%

What We Do

Providers

MDH provides cardiac rehab programs with resources and support to promote their programs and educate patients. Cardiac Rehabilitation in Minnesota (PDF) is a resource that provides more information.

For example, MDH is working with the Minnesota Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation to implement food insecurity screenings in some cardiac rehab sites.

Read more about how M Health Fairview, in partnership with Hunger Solutions, is linking patients to food resources.

Caregivers

Caregivers can play an important part in the cardiac rehab process. Read more about the role of a caregiver at Caregiver Tips for Cardiac Rehabilitation (PDF)

Patients

Access to affordable and nutritious foods and opportunities to be physically active is vital to patient success. Cardiac Rehabilitation: What it is and how does it help your heart? (PDF) is a resource that provides more information.
Read more about how patients are thriving after completing their cardiac rehab programs.

• Tenacity and teamwork help patient have more time with family
• Firefighter overcomes heart health challenges
• Cardiac rehab gives security guard a new lease on life

Payers

There are multiple barriers to successful patient participation, not the least of which is cost. Reducing or eliminating copays and expanding access through home or community-based options can help improve participation and completion rates.

Partners

• MNACVPR-Minnesota Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab
• AACVPR-American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab
• Million Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation Collaborative
• American Heart Association – Cardiac Rehabilitation

Data

• Learn more about Cardiac Rehab Use in Minnesota via the Dashboard.
• Read about ways Minnesota's interactive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) maps help boost understanding of critical service gaps and opportunities: Cardiac Rehab Use in Minnesota: 2021 Qualifying Events Data (PDF).