Melton Moorabool Star Weekly News article

A recent article published in the Moorabool Star Weekly – Cardihab in collaboration with Medibank is helping support patients

Melton Moorabool Star Weekly News article

The recent article published in the Moorabool Star Weekly shared another encouraging example of how Cardihab in collaboration with Medibank is helping support patients recover from cardiac events while adhering to social distancing measures required during the COVID-19 pandemic. While as a community we have demonstrated our ability to respond responsibly and well to the containment measures imposed for COVID-19, it is clear that we have a road yet to travel before we are able to resume our usually way of life. The importance of embracing evidence based digital health solutions like Cardihab was captured so eloquently by Kevin McCarthy in his explanation of what the Cardihab/Medibank Heart Health At Home experience meant for him.

“Doing appointments with nurses over the phone was obviously a much better way of doing it, being able to keep social distancing while also letting the nurses track my progress was important for my recovery."

It is this patient experience that is echoed by many of our customers that inspires us to expand the use of Cardihab across Australia. Ensuring access to quality care and continuity of care during the pandemic and beyond is our focus and we look forward to hearing many more success stories.

The Australian features Cardihab and Medibank project to maintain quality CR during pandemic.

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The Australian recently highlighted how Medibank is using Cardihab's remote digital cardiac rehabilitation solution to enable more people to access cardiac rehab during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medibank’s cardiac rehabilitation program is experiencing an increase in patient referrals during COVID-19. Cardihab allows them to provide personalised remotely delivered one to one support to help prevent a second serious cardiac event.

The Medibank Heart Health at Home program is one of the first personalised, fully telehealth-delivered cardiac rehabilitation services in Australia, making it more easily accessible to our customers.

Patients with a chronic health condition have a higher risk of suffering more severe symptoms if they contract COVID-19, so access to care in their home is crucial.

The Australian featured the story of 71-year-old Allen Parsons, who lives just outside the Queensland regional town of Toowoomba, had his second heart attack in March. He underwent surgery to have stents inserted in his arteries.

Mr Parsons was referred by his local hospital to the Heart Health at Home program to assist in his recovery.

“I didn’t fit the normal heart attack mould as I am active, not overweight and don’t drink much alcohol, but I wanted to ensure I gave myself the best chance to prevent a third heart attack,” he said.

“The program has been a helpful tool in my recovery, with my nurse providing me with advice and support on changes I need to make to my diet and exercise that will help to strengthen my heart muscles following the surgery.

“It has given me the flexibility to participate in the program because no matter whether I am working in Brisbane or a regional town, it is delivered remotely over the telephone at a time that suits me.”

Cardiovascular disease is currently the nation’s leading cause of death, with an estimated 1 in 6 Australians living with the disease.

The cardiac rehabilitation rate for Medibank’s rural customers is less than half that of those who live in metro areas.

Cardihab CEO Helen Souris said Cardihab was very proud to be able to support continuity of cardiac rehabilitation services during COVID restrictions and beyond.

"Cardiac rehabilitation has the potential to significantly reduce the occurrence future cardiac events. As many cardiac patients are currently not able to access traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs, and/or afraid to seek medical advice due to fear of COVID exposure, clinically proven remote programs like Cardihab can make a demonstrable difference to patients and deliver improved outcomes."