Telerehabilitation: Future of Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation: Review of Preliminary Outcomes.

ABSTRACT

In this brief communication, we reported Telehealth Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) program structure and preliminary outcomes from patients that completed a 12-week program after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We aim to advocate the use of Telerehabilitation as a Phase II CR in patients immediately after the CABG. This approach was innovative and encouraging because the patients were still in subacute phase. The program can serve as a continuation of care for the patients after being discharged from a hospital while regaining their functional ability at home. Our preliminary outcomes demonstrated improvements in resting heart rate, activity level, nutrition status, self-efficacy for managing cardiac diseases, muscle strength, endurance and depression. There were no adverse events during the virtual sessions. Patient satisfaction score was high.