Evaluating the quality of cardiac rehabilitation is the key to providing improved evidence-based care for patients – which is why Flinders Caring Futures Institute is proud to support an important workshop informing all South Australian clinicians and academics about fresh developments in evaluating solutions.
The event – Cardiac Rehabilitation in South Australia: 2023 Workshop for Clinicians – is being presented at the SAHMRI auditorium, North Tce, Adelaide, from 9am to 3pm on 24 February (also accessible online via Zoom).
It builds on the foundations laid down during the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Future Proofing Forum in 2021, which resulted in identifying data collection as a priority action area of cardiac rehabilitation.
This year, the workshops will draw on the collective expertise of South Australia’s leading CR clinicians and academics to identify six essential practice recommendations for a Statewide CR service.
This is a vital area requiring attention, as more than 65,000 Australians experience an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) episode each year – and about one-third of these people have existing coronary heart disease.
Of great concern is the willingness of people with cardiovascular diseases to engage in cardiac rehabilitation. While this is understood to be a highly effective way of preventing either recurrent events, hospitalisation or deaths of people with cardiovascular diseases after a cardiac event, less than 50 per cent of those people referred participate.
The program, which is being delivered by Flinders Caring Futures Institute in partnership with The Heart Foundation, SA Statewide Cardiology Clinical Network, Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health (CEIH) and Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation (ACRA), aims to provide vital information for clinicians.
A notable line-up of speakers from Flinders Caring Futures Institute will include Professor Robyn Clark (Professor of Nursing, Flinders CFI), Dr Alline Beleigoli (Senior Research Fellow, Flinders CFI) and Professor Jeroen Hendriks (Leo J Mahar Cardiovascular Nursing Chair, Flinders CFI), along with invited national speaker Professor Robyn Gallagher from the University of Sydney, who is current president of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR).
Dr Beleigoli will make a presentation explaining the current model of care and results of the 2016-2021 SA CR Audit Report, while Professor Hendriks will answer the question: Why is collecting quality and outcomes data important for cardiac nursing practice?
Professor Clark will join a panel discussion for the final session of the workshop, accompanied by Dr Celine Gallagher and Ms Wendy Keech, to discuss solutions for evaluation of the quality and outcomes of CR in South Australia.
The event will conclude with a two-part ‘workshop for solutions’ that involves group work and SWOT analysis, along with identifying 6 essential practice recommendations for a Statewide Clinical Network.
It adds up to a significant gathering of crucial health partners, showing that collective action to share research knowledge will help steer us towards better health solutions.