title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Helen Hayes Hospital, West Haverstraw, New York 10993, USA. kingm@helenhayeshosp.org
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Randal J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States