Medical Director Responsibilities for Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation/Secondary Prevention Programs: 2012 Update: A STATEMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR AND PULMONARY REHABILITATION AND THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
King, Marjorie MD; Bittner, Vera MD, MSPH; Josephson, Richard MD; Lui, Karen RN, MS; Thomas, Randal J. MD, MS; Williams, Mark A. PhD
[Miscellaneous Article] Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation & Prevention. 32(6):410-419, November/December 2012.

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Medical directors of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention (CR/SP) programs are responsible for the safe and effective delivery of high-quality CR/SP services to eligible patients. Yet, the training and resources for CR/SP medical directors are limited. As a result, there appears to be considerable variability throughout CR/SP programs in the United States in the roles, responsibilities, and engagement of CR/SP medical directors. Since the publication of the 2005 scientific statement from the American Heart Association and American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation regarding medical director responsibilities for outpatient CR/SP programs, significant changes have occurred. This statement updates the responsibilities of CR/SP medical directors, in view of changes in federal legislation and regulations and changes in health care delivery and clinical practice that impact the roles and responsibilities of CR/SP medical directors.

(C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.