Bottlenecks in supporting cardiac recovery: Addressing Cardiac Rehabilitation waitlists

Join us to hear from our expert panel discussing the potential bottlenecks in commencement of cardiac rehabilitation after a cardiac event and what processes can be introduced to improve delays so those in need can receive timely access to secondary prevention support.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a crucial part of the recovery process for patients’ post-cardiac events such as heart attack or heart surgery. CR after a cardiac event has been consistently shown to reduce readmissions and improve quality of life, supporting patient’s recovery and integration of secondary prevention activities into their daily life.

An extended waitlist for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can have considerable consequences for patients and their caregivers. Delayed access to CR can lead to prolonged recovery times, increased risk of complications, lack of risk factor modification, and reduced quality of life. The early recovery period is often a time of psychological distress during which patients can be supported and reassured by a cardiac rehab program soon after discharge.

In this clinical conversation, our expert panel will discuss the potential bottlenecks in the current system, root causes of extended waitlist and practical solutions that can be implemented by healthcare sectors to improve access to cardiac rehabilitation services.

SCV’s Clinical Conversation Series are webinars providing a platform for people to explore speciality areas of healthcare by sharing and discussing key learnings from lived experience in the sector. They aim to promote peer to peer learning through conversation and shared experiences to improve and inform existing best practice.  

It is free to attend, and sessions are recorded for future distribution and viewing.

Hosted by Safer Care Victoria's Cardiovascular Learning Health Network.