By Gayla Oakley, RN, CCRP, MAACVPR | April 24, 2020

Who would have guessed four months ago, today we would be sheltering at home, wearing a mask into the grocery store and have had many of our programs closed for the safety of our patients.

The whole world has turned upside-down as we try to understand and defend ourselves against an unknown virus, we now know as COVID-19, that has literally stopped the normal life as we knew it. There have been many challenges for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs with different scenarios across the United States.

There are programs that have completely closed, others continue patient engagement through phone calls and Face Time and yet others are able to see patients face to face as before. AACVPR has created a COVID-19 resource page on the AACVPR website which is updated continuously giving you the most up to date information to help answer your many questions during this time of uncertainty. There is a FAQ on maintaining compliance with ITP’s and 30-day requirements and guidance on telehealth codes that you will find very helpful.

Remember that we are not only in this together; we are also here for each other.  We frequently hear and use the word hero, but in reality, everyone is a hero from the front line personnel, to the truck drivers, to the cardiac and pulmonary rehab professionals worried about the welfare of their patients, to the people that stay home and shelter for the safety of themselves and others.

We will get through this.