Presented by: Richard Casaburi, PhD, MD; Andrew W. Gardner, PhD; Anne E. Holland, PT, PhD, FThorSoc, ATSF
Disclosures: None

1.0 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: This Awards Showcase, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, recognizes the best, brightest and most innovative individuals in the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation industry with the prestigious AACVPR Awards. This will honor the recipients of the L. Kent Smith Award of Excellence, Michael L. Pollock Established Investigator Award, and Thomas L. Petty. Distinguished Pulmonary Scholar Award. Join us to celebrate their incredible accomplishments and enjoy short presentations from the honorees highlighting their achievements.

Presented by: Todd Brown, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA, MAACVPR; Quinn Pack, MD, MSc
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, ACSM

Description: This session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will provide an update on the revised AHA/AACVPR Cardiac Core Components Paper. The session will cover updates and additions to the core components since the publication of the 2007 Core Components Paper. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the purpose of the AHA/AACVPR Core Components Paper Discuss revisions made to the Core Components defined in the 2007 publication.
2. Identify new components added with this update to the paper.

Presented by: Aimee Kizziar, MHAL, BA, RRT-NPS, RCP, CES; Connie Paladenech, RRT, RCP, MAACVPR, FAARC
Disclosures: None 

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: This presentation, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will discuss how center-based (CB) pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is well established with 40 years of substantial clinical effectiveness and safety. A growth in U.S. virtual models in the past five years has raised questions about equivalence, program heterogeneity virtual pulmonary rehabilitation (VPR) characteristics versus CB PR given the current lack of accepted PR quality metrics. The speakers will share the survey data that has emerged. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the well-established history of clinical effectiveness and safety of CB PR.
2. Discuss the data on the emergence of virtual models in the U.S. over the last five years, raising inquiries about the equivalence and program variations, especially in the absence of accepted quality metrics for VPR. Where we go from here.

Presented by: Mary Casey, MPA; Mike Thompson, PhD; Larrea Young, Mdes
Disclosures: None 

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, ACSM

Description: This presentation, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will provide attendees with a comprehensive deep-dive into the process of establishing the Michigan Cardiac Rehab Network (MiCR). Presenters will detail three action-oriented topics: 1) The formation of MiCR and its resulting collaborative efforts to improve cardiac rehabilitation (CR) utilization through data benchmarking, collaborative learning and development of best practices in CR quality improvement; 2) How MiCR and partners utilized the expertise of providers, patients and strategic advisors to develop highly-adaptable, evidence-based interventions; and 3) MiCR's continued commitment to stakeholder engagement for continuous quality improvement in CR utilization. Each segment will provide audience-members with valuable lessons learned and other key takeaways for successful, widespread implementation. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how to leverage various data sources to empower data-driven decision-making at the local level.
2. Coordinate the development, launch and evaluation of innovative solutions that leverage community partnerships and technology-based interventions.
3. Integrate actionable strategies for engaging stakeholders to lead high-impact quality improvement initiatives at the local level.
4. Demonstrate practical strategies to actively encourage and support patient participation in cardiac rehabilitation.

Presented by: Carolyn Feibig, MS, RD, CCTD; Megan Hays, PhD, ABPP, FAACVPR
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: This session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will discuss how while cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation (CR/PR) staff are most often tasked with helping patients lose weight, malnutrition is also very common and frequently undiagnosed in our patient population. Malnutrition becomes more prevalent with advancing age, frailty and in the presence of comorbidities, including depression. Depression is more prevalent in individuals with cardiopulmonary conditions than the general population and can be associated with malnutrition through various interconnected mechanisms. While depression and malnutrition are both associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cardiopulmonary disease, they are modifiable factors that can be addressed in CR/PR programs. In this session you will hear from a licensed dietitian and a board-certified rehabilitation psychologist on how to address comorbid depression and malnutrition through a holistic and integrated healthcare team approach. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the intricate relationship between depression, malnutrition and cardiopulmonary conditions.
2. Review psychometrically-sound screening tools for identifying malnutrition and depression in CR and PR patients that are consistent with AACVPR guidelines.
3. Explore evidence-based interventions that CR and PR staff can employ to address comorbid depression and malnutrition in patients undergoing CR/PR, including how a more flexible and creative approach can lead to better outcomes.
4. Learn how a multidisciplinary approach to comorbid malnutrition and depression can enhance rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life for CR and PR patients.

Presented by: Todd Brown, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA, MAACVPR; Susan Flack, MS, BSN, RN, FAACVPR; Lorri Lee, MHA, BS, CCRP, CEP, FAACVPR
Disclosures: None 

1.0 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: This session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will review the current Medicare rules for CR/ICR/PR/SET and preview proposed 2025 Medicare rules for CR/ICR/PR/SET. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Attendees will be familiar with billing & coding frequently asked questions.
2. Attendees will understand current Medicare regulatory issues for CR/PR/SET services.
3. Attendees will be knowledgeable regarding current AACVPR legislative actions on behalf of CR/PR/SET.

Presented by Tara Lagu, MD, MPH; Alexis Beatty, MD, MAS; Stacey Greenway, MA, MPH, FAACVPR, CCRP; Ashley Will, MBA, RRT, RCP
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, ACSM

Description: Over the last five years, Dr. Lagu and a team of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) experts have conducted a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study aimed at increasing participation of CR by people with heart failure (HF). In this panel session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, she and a group of experts will share their lessons learned about real-world strategies to increase CR use in this population and a road map for the future. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe current rates of use CR for patients with HF, what the most recent data suggests about benefits of CR for people with HF, common barriers and effective strategies to increase the use of CR for patients with HF, and expert consensus recommendations to increase CR use for HF.
2. Discuss how leading CR programs have identified novel strategies and refined existing strategies to increase referral, enrollment and retention of patients with HF.
3. Discuss how quality improvement efforts can be maximized through use of data, engagement of leadership to champion CR, identification of organizational readiness for change and participation in learning communities.
4. Discuss the future of CR for HF, including research, practice improvement and state, regional and national policy changes that could help to increase uptake of CR by people with HF.

Presented by Bryan J. Taylor, PhD, FACSM; Tathagat Narula, MBBS, MD, FACP; Wendy K. Cawley, BSN, RN, CCRP; Brandyn M. Rader, MS, CEP
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: This session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will discuss how heart or lung transplantation can be an effective treatment for selected patients with advanced cardiac or pulmonary diseases. However, complications during the pre- or early post-transplant period with prolonged ICU and hospital stays cause inactivity and sedentary behavior that, compounded by immunosuppressant therapy, can deleteriously affect physical capacity and health-related quality-of-life, and prolong recovery and worsen outcomes. In this session, the presenters will discuss the evolving evidence that exercise-based cardiac or pulmonary (p)rehabilitation should be considered essential in optimizing functional capacity, enhancing health-related quality-of-life, decreasing post-operative complications and improving outcomes in heart or lung transplant candidates and recipients. Based on their clinical practice and giving case examples where appropriate, they will also detail the importance of a team-based approach in optimizing the (p)rehabilitation of such patients and consider the increasing challenge posed by patients who experience a complicated pre- and/or post-transplant course and explore the potential utility of alternative approaches to exercise training and rehabilitation delivery in these patients. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Summarize the evidence that exercise-based cardiac or pulmonary (p)rehabilitation can optimize functional capacity, enhance health-related quality-of-life and improve outcomes in heart or lung transplant candidates and recipients.
2. Describe the key roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team needed to provide comprehensive and effective (p)rehabilitation for heart or lung transplant candidates and recipients.
3. Identify the importance and benefits of integrating specialists such as physical therapists into clinical practice to promote early mobilization and rehabilitation after a heart or lung transplant.
4. Recognize the practical considerations for optimizing (p)rehabilitation in heart or lung transplant candidates or recipients.

Presented by Megan Hays, PhD, ABPP, FAACVPR
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM 

Description: This session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will discuss how cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR) leaders and staff are familiar with today's challenging healthcare landscape, characterized by a complex interplay of various factors that pose difficulties for healthcare systems, providers and patients. High rates of burnout and job dissatisfaction exacerbated by the demands of the pandemic have resulted in critical workforce shortages, which can contribute to a breakdown of community and collaboration within healthcare teams. In the dynamic setting of healthcare's rebuilding phase, positive culture within CR teams becomes paramount to improving patient and care, medical errors, employee well-being, employee engagement and staff turnover rates. In this session Dr. Hays will review the evidence-based benefits of a positive workplace culture, explore common elements of both toxic and positive cultures, discuss actionable steps to foster a sense of belonging and community within CR teams and examine the foundational role of leadership in enhancing team dynamics and driving positive change. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Examine research regarding the role of positive culture and community in the workplace.
2. Discuss the essential elements of a positive team culture and how it contributes to improved patient care and well-being.
3. Explore leadership's crucial role in shaping and sustaining a positive workplace culture.
4. Learn practical tools and strategies to build or revive a positive workplace culture and cultivate a sense of community within CR teams, fostering trust and collaboration.

Presented by Conor W. Banta, BA; Dereck L. Salisbury, PhD, FAACVPR; Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi, PT, PhD; Patrick J. Schilling, BS, ACSM-CEP, CCRP; Samantha G. Farris, PhD; Lisa M. Pollack, PhD, MPH, MPT
Disclosures: None

1.25 CEUs: AACVPR, AMA, CDR, ANCC, AARC, ACSM

Description: AACVPR strives to provide diverse educational opportunities for its members. During this session, recorded at the 2024 Annual Meeting, authors will present their peer-reviewed research in a specific topic area, and presentations will be moderated by experts in the field.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss abstract research findings.
2. Assess nature and execution of research.
3. Analyze abstract research findings.