2021 Volume 67 Issue 1 Pages 10-16
Cardiac rehabilitation refers to a long-term, multifaceted, comprehensive program designed to optimize a patient’s physical, psychological, social, and vocational status. Early mobilization and rehabilitation in intensive care units have become an established position in the Japanese medical insurance system since “early rehabilitation addition (5,000 yen/patient/day, 14-day upper limit)” was newly established in the revision of medical treatment fees in FY2018.
The number of older patients with heart failure continues to increase in Japan. For older patients, in addition to increasing the walking distance and confirming the safety of expanding the range of life during hospitalization, it is important to have a rehabilitation program to improve daily life functions such as being able to stand up safely and maintain good balance and stability.
Although older patients with heart failure who need to improve their ability to perform activities of daily living need continuous rehabilitation after discharge from acute care hospitals, cardiac rehabilitation in rehabilitation hospitals is rarely performed due to various medical insurance systemic restrictions. In addition, only 7% of patients underwent in-patient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Therefore, there are growing expectations for tele-rehabilitation using digital information and communication technology.
