On Demand: Revitalizing Cardiac Rehabilitation Across the System-Webinar Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar focused on the journey of Sentara Health System in implementing the Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab (ICR) program across their facilities. Jenny Kennedy and Denise from MedAxiom Care Transformation hosted the session, featuring guests Laura Decker, Director of Patient Services, and Kathy Reese, Manager of Health and Wellness at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.<br /><br />The discussion began with an overview of Sentara, a 12-hospital integrated system across Virginia and North Carolina, highlighting the diverse demographics they serve. The transition to the Pritikin ICR was driven by the desire to standardize cardiac rehab programs and improve financial and patient outcomes.<br /><br />Sentara adopted a strategic approach by starting with pilot sites—Martha Jefferson and Sentara Careplex—to gauge the feasibility and effectiveness of the program. They prioritized executive leadership buy-in and conducted financial analyses to compare the new ICR program with traditional cardiac rehab.<br /><br />Key differences highlighted between traditional cardiac rehab and ICR included an increased emphasis on comprehensive lifestyle modification, nutritional guidance, and mental well-being, leading to improved patient outcomes and engagement. The panelists praised the support received from Pritikin, which included training, guidance, and resources like Pritikin Live, beneficial particularly when resources like dietitians were scarce.<br /><br />Implementation challenges such as space and staffing were creatively addressed through collaboration with food services and optimizing available resources. The program's success was underscored by improved patient satisfaction, significant clinical outcomes, and a positive contribution margin, which helped gain executive support and facilitated system-wide implementation by the end of 2024.

Keywords

Sentara Health System

Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab

MedAxiom Care Transformation

Laura Decker

Kathy Reese

cardiac rehab

Virginia

North Carolina

patient outcomes

lifestyle modification