Our goal is to transform post-discharge secondary prevention and reduce the burden of heart disease by decreasing deaths, hospitalisations and costs via a program of work that integrates data, technology, partnerships and capacity building.
Objectives
- Develop comprehensive, continuous and national data, with the aim to implement an Australian-first nationwide, electronic data collection and reporting platform for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs
- Support research that optimises access to and quality of secondary prevention
- Identify and cultivate multidisciplinary research capacity, community engagement and future health services researcher leaders
- Develop comprehensive, continuous and national data, with the aim to implement an Australian-first nationwide, electronic data collection and reporting platform for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs
- Support research that optimises access to and quality of secondary prevention
- Identify and cultivate multidisciplinary research capacity, community engagement and future health services researcher leaders
- Develop comprehensive, continuous and national data, with the aim to implement an Australian-first nationwide, electronic data collection and reporting platform for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs
- Support research that optimises access to and quality of secondary prevention
- Identify and cultivate multidisciplinary research capacity, community engagement and future health services researcher leaders
Our Initiatives
SOLVE-CHD is a 5 year program of work that builds on previous and current efforts. In particular, the work of the Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Measurement Taskforce where there has been national consensus and development of quality indicators for cardiac rehabilitation. SOLVE-CHD will see delivery of interlinked service reform and research across 4 key activities.
1. Transformative data & quality
Collection of real-time, consistent jurisdictional and national cardiac rehabilitation data with appropriate governance established. This will ultimately reduce inequity, improve patient outcomes and systems efficiency through performance metrics, benchmarking and quality improvement. These data will be collected real-time and will be linked with electronic medical records.
2. New research
Development and investigation of novel interventions that utilise technology within the context of personalised models of care, usefulness, patient reported outcomes and value for money. These should be personalised and tailored according to need, patient preference and level of risk (to ensure treatment optimisation) and could be delivered using digital health. Examples include potential of virtual reality, peer support and telehealth approaches.
3. Capacity building
Identify and cultivate multidisciplinary research capacity, community engagement and future health services researcher leaders. Implement a program of project (small EMCR catalysts & pilot funds) and people support (PhD Scholarships & postdoctoral fellowships) as well as opportunities for travel and exchange between working environments (where possible). These funds will be provided to projects and people answering specific research questions relevant to SOLVE-CHD. Stay tuned, opportunities will open shortly. Sign up to our mailing list by clicking Join Us section now.
4. National network
We will establish a virtual SOLVE-CHD National network to support and unify researchers, clinicians, government, non-government and consumers. This will help facilitate sharing of solutions, building partnerships and provide a conduit for sharing resources.
Background
Heart Disease Burden
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, is the leading cause of death and disease burden globally. CVD resulted in >1.1 million hospitalisations in 2015-16 and incurs the highest level of health care sector expenditure in Australia. Over 65,000 Australians experience an acute coronary event (heart attack or unstable angina) each year and importantly, many are preventable.
- With an aging population, more people surviving initial events, and an epidemic of lifestyle-related health problems, the health burden is escalating globally. Most patients now survive an initial myocardial infarction (MI), have a short stay in-hospital and are discharged with minimal physical morbidity
- Thus, improving post-discharge care through secondary prevention strategies (healthy living, adherence to medicines) is a current national and international priority.
Importance of history
- Understanding the historical context underscores the need to reform CHD management in light of societal changes (eg. cultural, linguistic and geographical diversity and proliferation of technology) and medical and surgical advancements (Fig). Modern day “rehabilitation” was born at a time when bed rest and physical inactivity were recommended for people with heart disease.
- Most (70-80%) heart disease secondary prevention programs today continue to follow the 50 year old model despite fundamental changes in society and medical care.
