Course Description:

The number of people with cardiac and/or pulmonary disease is escalating, to the point that for people over the age of 65, these disease processes are responsible for the highest rate of hospitalization and re-hospitalization, secondary to the higher risks associated with each. These disease processes often contribute to each other, heart failure may lead to pulmonary hypertension and COPD has been associated with risk for cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Interdisciplinary therapy programs with cardiac and pulmonary protocols have proven to be effective to improve the health of patients and enable a more active lifestyle, as well as to help a person return to their prior level of function. In addition, through the defined monitoring programs, therapists are able to note, document and report any initial abnormal findings, which may occur during exercise as early onset of an exacerbation, with the teamwork results of preventing a hospital readmission. This course will provide therapists with evidence based practices and resources to treat the cardiopulmonary patient for improved outcomes. This course offers a comprehensive review of research-based parameters for treating the complexities of cardiopulmonary disease. Due to the high rate of patients with Heart Failure and/or COPD who are being admitted to hospitals and post-acute care, PTs and PTAs are required to have a greater level of expertise for cardiac and pulmonary protocols, as well as the patient/family education components that are required as a part of their cardiopulmonary programs. Additionally, this course provides resourceful information for the PT/PTA, ranging from cardiac specific standardized assessments to the methods of action and adverse effects of pharmacologic treatments. Careful monitoring systems are included, which the PT and PTA must assure throughout their treatments of patients who have a cardiac and/or pulmonary diagnosis. Guidance is also offered to allow the physical therapist to understand the complications of co-morbidities and poly-pharmacy which may directly influence the added complexities for assessment and treatment decisions. Participants in this course will also receive tools and direction for treating the patient with a Ventricular Assistive Device (VAD), to include the progressive stages of treatments following implantation of a Left and/or Right VAD.