URochester Medicine is offering a virtual cardiac rehabilitation program intended to help patients recover at home when travel or limited space at in-person centers makes care difficult to access.
The program pairs home exercise and health-monitoring equipment with professional support through a partnership with Movn Health, the health system announced.
A home option alongside four rehabilitation sites
Cardiac rehab combines supervised exercise, education and support after serious heart conditions or procedures. The health system’s in-person locations include Canal View in Brighton, FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, St. James Hospital in Hornell and Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville.
Seth Jacobson, director of Cardiac Rehabilitation, said capacity and travel can make it difficult for patients across the region to attend those centers.
Rehabilitation may be recommended after a heart attack, angioplasty or stenting, coronary bypass, valve repair or replacement, heart failure or a transplant. Eligibility and a suitable care plan depend on the patient’s condition.
Equipment and regular contact with a care team
Participants receive a scale, smartwatch, blood pressure monitor and exercise bands to support rehabilitation at home.
The current program description outlines 12 weeks of personalized support, weekly phone or video contact with a care manager, live virtual exercise and wellness classes, and education about nutrition, medication and stress. Ongoing support includes monthly check-ins and continued group classes after the program.
Chris Rollins, an Irondequoit business owner and soccer referee, completed an early pilot at home after doctors at Strong Memorial Hospital removed a blockage in his heart. He said exercising at home helped him return to work while keeping up with his family’s schedule.
Rollins reported exercising more, monitoring his blood pressure and paying closer attention to food after completing the program.
A cardiologist can make the referral
Most insurance plans cover the virtual program, the health system says, and coverage is confirmed before a patient begins. Interested patients should discuss a referral with their cardiologist and ask whether virtual rehabilitation fits their needs.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
