As you certainly know, our programs are faced with massive disruptions and new challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. AACVPR has responded quickly with the development of the COVID-19 Task Force and Resource Page. However, one of the additional impacts of COVID-19 has been the cancelation of in-person education, which professionals look to for their CEU requirements. With so many spring in-person events being rescheduled, we have been brainstorming creative ways that AACVPR can offer new educational opportunities to members.

Please see below for more information regarding this carefully curated collection of courses:

Future Research Directions in CR: Questions that need to be answered, and ways to answer them
Presented by: Amanda Bonikowske, PhD, Joshua R. Smith, PhD, and Thomas Olsen, PhD

This session will focus on strategies to manage the ever-changing landscape of CR delivery and how to continue to collect quality data to answer new research questions to improve the care we deliver to CR patients. Specific areas of focus would include home-based CR and the directions of research in this area and questions that need to be addressed. Integration of technology into center and home-based CR and what research is needed to determine whether new technology adds value.

Remote Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Presented by: Abby Cohen and Noah Greenspan, DPT, CCS, EMT-B

This session will focus on comparing remote pulmonary rehabilitation versus in-person pulmonary rehabilitation. Information will be shared on determining  the optimal versus sub-optimal candidates for technology supported  pulmonary rehabilitation. This session will also share what should programs know about developing and providing video based pulmonary rehabilitation and recommendations for billing. 

Managing Anxiety in you Cardiac Patients
Presented by: Eva Serber, PhD

Anxiety is a prominent concern for cardiac patients in general and particularly as they participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Patients may come in with premorbid anxiety or adjusting to recent cardiac event or surgery that brought them to CR. Anxiety has been linked to higher rates of mortality, future cardiac events, and can interfere with recovery and self-care behaviors (e.g., sleep, treatment adherence). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients also present as a unique subset of these patients. Treatment of anxiety in cardiac patients requires a general understanding of both cardiovascular disease process, treatment, and symptom presentation; as well as anxiety process, symptom presentation and treatment. This session will provide a brief review of the literature regarding anxiety in cardiac patients, discuss identification of anxiety in your CR patients, and provide interventions you can use with your CR patients to reduce their anxiety to facilitate recovery.

Navigating the New Nutrition Facts Panel: Straightforward Strategies for Your Cardiac Patients
Presented by: Kerri Whitley, MS, RDN, LD, CCRP, EPC

This session will focus on developing an action plan for your patients specifically moving from meats to plants. This session will also discuss handling objections, achieving sustainability and provide some resources for your and your patients.

Finding and Creating Joy in Work
Presented by: Lisa Perrin, BSN, RN, CCRP

In an environment that is changing constantly with increasing patient visits with cardiac, pulmonary, wellness, and stress test, teamwork was suffering causing a loss for joy in our work. Staff was feeling burnout that can affect quality, safety, and healthcare system performance. Utilizing IHI Joy in Work White Paper Columbus Community Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation focused on Teamwork interdepartmentally. How can we find and Create Joy in our Work?