M Health Fairview – U of M increased patient enrollment and adherence
"We received two innovation grants at the M Health Fairview - University of Minnesota Medical Center for projects that focused on improving cardiac rehab participation and completion. The goal was to encourage patients to stay enrolled until formal discharge and to increase the number of sessions patients completed by the time of formal discharge.
The first project we implemented involved reducing the financial burden of parking at our hospital. We asked patients if they foresaw any barriers to participation when they began the program. If parking/finances were identified, we offered them free parking vouchers for every third rehab session. If a patient no showed or canceled their appointments, we called them to address their barrier(s). If parking/finances were identified at that time, we also offered them parking vouchers for every third rehab session.
The second project used the awarded grant funding to purchase water bottles, gym towels, stainless steel tumblers, and AHA cookbooks. The smaller incentive items (water bottles and gym towels) were given to patients when they reached 25 sessions. The larger incentive items (stainless steel tumblers and AHA cookbooks) were given to patients when they reached 36 sessions. We told patients about the incentives when they started cardiac rehab. The 25th session incentive was given to recipients during group sessions so other patients could see their achievement.
We have seen success after implementing these innovation plans. The overall completion rate (defined by patients attending a formal discharge session) in 2018-2019 was 49.8%. The overall completion rate to date (7/20/22) in 2022 is 52.6%. The gold standard recommended number of sessions for cardiac rehab is 36. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our average number of completed sessions at time of formal discharge was 23. Since initiating this incentive program, our average number of completed sessions at time of formal discharge is 30. We surpassed the mean of 29 sessions as compared to the entire AACVPR Registry.
The greatest success of these grants is that our hospital administration saw the benefits that were being provided to our patients and programs. Future budgeting to maintain both programs long-term was approved and we have been able to continue providing the resources/incentives to our patients. The parking pass program was also expanded to our pulmonary and PAD programs so everyone could benefit. We now have enough parking passes to provide all our patients with passes every third session to promote adherence.”