Healing Veteran Hearts with Virtual Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (Smart HEART)
Last updated
Share PrintSmart HEART (Health Education and Rehab Technology) Virtual Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation helps some of the most vulnerable at-risk veterans who have had hospitalizations for heart disease. We use connected technology such as fitness trackers and a smartphone app to remotely connect veterans at home with their VA cardiology team. We use a sophisticated dashboard system with programmed alerts to improve the efficiency of patient care and prevent adverse outcomes.
Origin:
Adoptions:
5 successful
Awards and Recognition:
iNet Spark Award Investee, iNET Spread Investee
Partners:
Diffusion of Excellence, Office of Rural Health, VHA Innovators Network
Recent Updates
Overview
The problem
Cardiac rehabilitation is a life-saving cardiovascular risk reduction program that is utilized by less than 10% of eligible veterans who are some of the highest risk. Barriers include veteran disability and lack of resources to attend the traditional program, which consists of attending 36 on-site exercise sessions over 12 weeks. They may also be exposed to
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Cardiac rehabilitation is a life-saving cardiovascular risk reduction program that is utilized by less than 10% of eligible veterans who are some of the highest risk. Barriers include veteran disability and lack of resources to attend the traditional program, which consists of attending 36 on-site exercise sessions over 12 weeks. They may also be exposed to additional risk of COVID-19. Innovative approaches at home-based programs are needed.
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The solution
Smart HEART (Health Education and Rehab Technology) virtual cardiac rehabilitation is a technology-based implementation toolkit that rapidly enables medical centers to start a new telehealth-based cardiac rehabilitation program to increase access to care and veteran participation.
Links
- Describes how virtual home based cardiac rehabilitation works Description of program
The results
Smart HEART allows your facility to offer cardiac rehabilitation to a larger number of veterans that are unable to attend in-person rehab, allowing it to improve in key hospital performance metrics such as enrolling patients in cardiac rehabilitation within 21 days. The comprehensive lifestyle change programming has been found to increase functional capacity
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Smart HEART allows your facility to offer cardiac rehabilitation to a larger number of veterans that are unable to attend in-person rehab, allowing it to improve in key hospital performance metrics such as enrolling patients in cardiac rehabilitation within 21 days. The comprehensive lifestyle change programming has been found to increase functional capacity, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improve depressive symptoms, improve diet, and increase self-efficacy. It is also associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular disease events.
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more
Links
- Detailed description of feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes from initial pilot study Smart HEART Pilot Study publication
- Abstract presented at a national conference meeting on virtual cardiac rehab cost effectiveness Cost effectiveness evaluation
- Award granted to program from the American College of Cardiology during their Innovation Competition ACC Innovation Award
- Award for solution at Heart Science Forum Heart Science Forum
Metrics
- 2x the number of veterans served
- 50% of the cost of traditional cardiac rehabilitation in the community
- 9 mg/dL reduction in LDL cholesterol
- 36% reduction in smoking of active smokers in the program
- 1.5 point reduced PHQ-9 score for depressive symptoms
- 10% increase in functional capacity with 6 minute walk test
- 5 point increased cardiac self-efficacy
- 95% veteran satisfaction reported
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Multimedia
Images
Above:
Enrollment visit with participant with Smart HEART kit that includes the smartphone app, connected BP monitor/scale, education booklet, as well as wristband wearable.
Implementation
Timeline
-
2 months
Apply for SaaS request to engage with Project Special Forces to procure the technology. Then engage with Moving Analytics for customized quote and purchase. -
2 months
Train clinical team with Moving Analytics to acquire skills for coaching and technology management
Departments
- Logistics
- Cardiology
Core Resources
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Support Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
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PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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Files
- Order form that may be used by the facility to order the program from the Vendor; typically can be a purchase made through the logistics department Price List and Order Form
About
Origin story
Our program started in 2016 with the support of the VA Innovation network to do a pilot at our medical center, where many veterans were dealing with excessive delays in receive cardiac rehabilitation care. Smart HEART filled an important gap and showed tremendous success, quickly spreading to additional sites with additional VA Innovation support. The progra
...
Our program started in 2016 with the support of the VA Innovation network to do a pilot at our medical center, where many veterans were dealing with excessive delays in receive cardiac rehabilitation care. Smart HEART filled an important gap and showed tremendous success, quickly spreading to additional sites with additional VA Innovation support. The program has now matured over time and is ready for diffusion at other medical centers seeking to improve their preventive cardiology service and modernize their care.
Original team
Amit Shah
Director, Chief of Preventive Cardiology
Arash Harzand
Digital Preventive Cardiology, Senior Innovation Fellow
Harsh Vagsantham
CEO and co-founder, Moving Analytics
Ade Adesanya
President and co-founder, Moving Analytics
Comment
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