TAKEheart shares progress in increasing cardiac rehab referrals

Since the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) started its TAKEheart initiative in 2019, the agency has recruited 50 hospitals to take part and launched a website with resources on evidence-based strategies for increasing referrals for cardiac rehabilitation (CR). CR lowers the risk of death, illness and hospitalization from cardiac events, yet only 20% of eligible Americans receive this service. Hospitals and health systems are invited to join the TAKEheart Learning Community at no cost to engage with peers on a broad set of strategies for addressing barriers to referral, enrollment and retention in CR programs. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), cardiac rehabilitation is a key component of high-value, coordinated care for heart patients. The AHA Center for Health Innovation supports the TAKEheart initiative. (AHRQ Views story, 2/13/20)