Evaluating the Implementation of PCOR to Increase Referral, Enrollment, and Retention through Automatic Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) with Care Coordinator

The project “Implementing PCOR [Patient Centered Outcomes Research] to Increase Referral, Enrollment, and Retention in Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) through Automatic Referral with Care Coordinator” fully supports AHRQ’s mission. This topic was nominated for consideration under AHRQ’s Dissemination and Implementation (D and I) Initiative. The nominators were Million Hearts® (an initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). AHRQ’s D and I initiative responded to a congressional mandate and funded under the PCOR-Trust Fund. The nomination featured PCOR evidence on the value of cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization and an evidence-based implementation strategy, automatic referral with liaison. AHRQ judged the nomination to have a high level of fit with AHRQ’s criteria of having a substantial evidence base, high potential impact, and high feasibility for wide dissemination and implementation Outreach with stakeholders indicates that this initiative aligns well but does not duplicate work by NIH; PCORI; CMS and CDC. After launch, AHRQ named its CR project “TAKEheart.” Successful execution of the TAKEheart project can contribute directly to the nation’s health. Currently over two-thirds of eligible cardiac patients are not referred to CR despite extensive evidence of its effectiveness in preventing subsequent morbidity; national estimates of referral range from 10-34%.1 To help improve CR rates, the Million Hearts® Cardiac Rehabilitation Collaborative developed a Cardiac Rehabilitation Change Package (CRCP) and established a national goal of 70% participation in CR by 2022 for eligible patients.2 The aim of this project is to raise awareness about the benefits of CR, then to spread knowledge about CRCP resources, and finally to increase CR uptake. The project will facilitate implementation of Automatic Referral with Care Coordinator in selected, diverse hospitals nationwide which demonstrate their readiness. AHRQ will evaluate TAKEHeart to: 1. Assess the extent and effectiveness of the dissemination and implementation efforts, including the uptake and usage of CRCP components including but not limited to Automatic Referral with Care Coordination, and 2. Measure changes in CR referral, enrollment, and retention.

The latest form for Evaluating the Implementation of PCOR to Increase Referral, Enrollment, and Retention through Automatic Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) with Care Coordinator expires 2023-07-31 and can be found here.

Attachment C – Partner Hospital Champion Survey

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Health - Health Care Services

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