Those of you who are members of AACVPR received an email last week asking you, as cardiac and pulmonary rehab professionals, to submit your comments regarding CMS' proposed new rules for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation that will be effective January 1, 2010. The leadership of IACPR encourages everyone to submit comments. We are not asking for patient comments at this time.

All of the information you need to submit comments is included here. Included is background information, as well as the links to submit your comments. CMS considers the volume of comments received and whether the comments are consistent, so please encourage your program medical director and hospital administration to submit comments as well. Comments must be submitted by August 31, 2009.

This is our last chance to help CMS "get it right." Please take this action that will benefit your patients and programs.

The AACVPR News & Views is launching a new column "Innovative Programming/Best Practice." The purpose is to highlight innovative programming ideas and best practice standards and the people behind them. The column will appear in each issue of News & Views. 

You are the best source of information or ideas about creative means to provide effective and efficient care for patients and programming. IACPR is encouraging its members to evaluate your abilities, co-workers, and programs and submit these ideas to be shared with all AACVPR members through the "Innovative Programming/Best Practice Standards" column in News & Views.

Your ideas can be submitted in one of two ways:

1.    A short article (less than 250 words) describing how a person, program, or affiliate is practicing innovative programming and/or exemplifying best practice standards

2.    Quick ideas or examples of innovation/best practice – somewhat like a “Tip of the Week.”

Please send your submissions to Diane McGrew, IACPR president, and she will forward them to the AACVPR national office.

Nancy Steingreaber was nominated for this award by Laura Mackaman of Iowa Health System. Here are some of Nancy's accomplishments and activities that she noted:

Member of IACPR

Member of AACVPR 

Heart and Lung Games - Helped to organize and facilitate this event every year while this was held helping with transportation of patients to and from the event.

IACPR Committee Leader: Education Committee Co-Chair

* TriNetwork Committee member past 10+ years (incuding this year) 

* TriNetwork Committee Chair - coordinated conferences the years of 2002, 2005, and 2008 when Iowa hosted the event. Duties for this include scheduling speakers, on-site location details, budget, brochure, registration, monthly teleconferences and overall trouble shooting to name a few! 

Current Program Director of Skiff Medical Center in Newton.

Active community member supporting heart healthy awareness events.

Nancy is professional, fun, caring, and has represented the IACPR for many years with what seems to be endless energy!

We are proud to recognize Nancy for this award!

Sixteenth Annual Trinetwork Conference: Combining Forces for Future Growth

April 17-18, 2009

Click here to view the agenda (link no longer valid)

Hotel information

Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista 

2525 Westport Parkway 

La Vista,Nebraska 68128 

402-331-7400

The new Embassy Suites Omaha - La Vista Hotel & Conference Center is situated just off of Interstate 80 in the new Southport shopping, business and entertainment development. The hotel is adjacent to the new Cabela’s and just minutes from Omaha’s famous Old Market district, Shadow Lake Towne Center and Village Pointe shopping center.

Complimentary breakfast and social hour included for registered guests.

For Reservations please call  1-800-embassy

Room rates -  $119.00 single person, $135.00 two, then $15.00 per person for 3 or more.

The IACPR program certification committee will no longer be reviewing program certification applications. The role of the state committees is now to serve as a resource to programs applying for program certification.  Please contact any of the following committee members with questions about program certification or re-certification:

Janie Knipper, Committee Chair

Phone: (319) 356-8396

Fax: (319) 353-7199

E-mail:  jane-knipper@uiowa.edu

 

Pat Cavanaugh

Pulmonary contact

Phone: (515) 247-3145

Fax: (515) 643-8909

E-mail:  pcavanaugh@mercydesmoines.org

 

Karen Doy

Cardiac contact

Phone: (563) 421-6991

Fax: (563) 421-6999

E-mail: doyk@genesishealth.com

 

Peg King

Pulmonary or Cardiac contact

Phone: (515) 433-8264

Fax: (515) 432-0880

E-mail:  cardiacrehab@boonecountyhospital.com

 

Claire Shannon-Klann

Cardiac contact

Phone: (563) 422-9764

Fax: (563) 422-9771

E-mail:  jerothli@palmerlutheran.org

Location: via Iowa Communication Network, see sites listed below. Additional sites can be set up with a minimum of 5 participants by contacting Patty Huisenga or call 515-239-6780. If any of the sites below have less than 5 participants, the site may be cancelled.

Audience: Interested Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals

Purpose: To educate Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation professionals on:

1. Program needs for patients with high oxygen requirements
2. Exercise heart rate recommendations for Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients
3. Nutrition education ideas to facilitate behavior change

Faculty:

Jane Knipper, RN, MA, AE-C, FAACVPR, Program Coordinator of Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Leah Lenz, MSPT, ES, CSCS, Physical Therapist for the University of Iowa’s Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program

Denise Albert, RD, LD, Dietician for the University of Iowa's Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program

Objectives:

1. Identify indications of the need for supplemental oxygen
2. Discuss program policy allowing flexibility in administration of supplemental oxygen during exercise.
3. List delivery devices for the administration of high flow oxygen.
4. Discuss appropriate maximal heart rate limitation for patients who have had an AMI, when entering into phase II cardiac rehabilitation
5. Discuss characteristics that define patients more likely to have lower peak heart rates
6. Identify nutrition education ideas to help facilitate behavior change.

Cost: Please note that the charge for CEUs is new this fall! This program is free to all members of IACPR. A program fee for non-member is $20.00. All requests for CEUs require a $10.00 processing fee. Payment for CEUs can be made with PayPal when registering online or, on site day of conference. Make checks payable to IACPR. If you would like to become a IACPR member, or renew your membership for $35.00/year, click here. Two ICN conferences per year are included with membership.

Continuing Education Units: 0.3 Nursing CEUs are approved by Mary Greeley Medical Center, provider #95. No partial credit will be granted. Certificate of Attendance provided to all Respiratory and Physical Therapists. 

Schedule:

8:45 Registration

8:55 Roll Call-Welcome-Announcements Diane McGrew, RN IACPR President

9:10 Patients with High Oxygen Needs: Can Your Program Meet Those Needs? (Jane Knipper)

10:30 AACVPR Poster Presentations/Clinical Practice Updates. (Leah Lenz, Denise Albert

12:00 Evaluations

12:15 Adjournment

ICN Sites:

Ankeny High School 1302 NW Ankeny Blvd, Room #522 Ankeny (Monitor: Laura Mackaman)

Atlantic Public Library 507 Poplar Street Atlantic (Monitor: Beth McDermott)

Area Education Agency 267 3712 Cedar Heights Dr. Cedar Falls (Monitor: Bobbie Emerson)

Marion Linn-Mar High School 3111 N. 10th St. Marion (Monitor: Stephanie Cooper)

Dubuque Comm. School Dist. Forum 2300 Chaney Room: Marv O’Hare Dubuque (Monitor: Carla Taft)

Trinity Regional Medical Center 802 Kenyon Road ICN Room Ft Dodge (Monitor: Kathy Johnson)

Center for Disabilities University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 100 Hawkins Drive Iowa City (Monitor: Leah Lenz)

North Iowa Area Community College-4 500 College Drive Room: CB118 Mason City (Monitor: Rhonda Halfpop)

Newton Senior high School 800 E 4th Street S. Room: 104 Newton (Monitor: Nancy Steingreaber)

Orange City Hospital and Clinics 400 Central Avenue NW Orange City (Monitor: Robin Bird)

Ottumwa Regional Health Center 1001 E. Pennsylvania, Conference Room A Ottumwa (Monitor: Leslie Heemsbergen)

West Burlington High School 408 W. Van Weiss Blvd. West Burlington (Monitor: TBD)

2008 Workshop: Pulmonary Hypertension and the Implications for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Thursday, November 6, 2008

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Sponsored by: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care

IBN Approved Provider #34

Intended Audience: Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Social Workers, Other Health Professionals

Workshop Description: This one-day workshop for healthcare professionals is designed to provide both background and current information on clinical practice related to the care of patients with pulmonary hypertension, including pathophysiology, diagnostic testing, signs and symptoms of PH, goals and treatment, exercise assessment and training, meeting the oxygen needs of the PH patient, and case examples. 

For more information, call 319-356-8396.

To register, contact Nancy Lane-Gipson.

Patient Care Manager Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Covenant Medical Center- Waterloo, IA 

POSTED 01/02/2017
Seeking a positive nursing leader with excellent customer service & communication skills to manage the daily operations of the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab department.   Responsible for upholding clinical practice standards, CQI, training & development, budgeting and filling in for staff when needed.  This leader is responsible for the program certification renewal process and registry data input.  

Candidates must be a RN, BSN & a background in Exercise Physiology. Background in Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab and the program certification process strongly preferred.  Participation in the state and national levels of AACVPR strongly preferred.  Current IA RN license, IA driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle report.   Minimal travel to Mercy – Oelwein required.

For more information or to apply online, please visit us at www.wheatoniowa.org/employment

 EOE/Drug Screen Required

AACVPR Reimbursement Update 

The Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act is now Law 

Congratulations to the members of AACVPR and the patients they serve.  The Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act has been voted into law.  As you are aware, the President vetoed the Medicare bill, HR 6331, which includes our Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation provisions in Section 144.  In spite of overwhelming Congressional support for the bill, on Tuesday, July 15th President Bush vetoed this legislation. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this important legislation and responded swiftly to the Presidential veto.  The House of Representatives and the Senate have responded by voting to override that veto.  The House vote to override that veto was 383-41.  Immediately following that vote, the Senate voted to override the veto by a vote of 70 to 26.  This legislation, now law, includes a provision (Section 144) that establishes both cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services as specific Medicare benefit categories that mandate coverage and payment of services.

AACVPR members and leaders are to be congratulated on our monumental achievement.  As an organization, we have been working for almost 10 years for a provision to ensure that pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation services are included in the Medicare statute.  Inclusion of Section 144 is a reflection of the very hard and persistent work of AACVPR members to garner support of Senators and Congressmen who clearly voted in support of our provisions.   

As we celebrate this important milestone for CR and PR, there is still work to be accomplished.  The process from here forward will include several important, complex actions:

The provisions of the bill have an effective date of 1/1/10 and while it is unlikely that CMS will move forward with an official NCD process for pulmonary rehabilitation in the near future, it would be reasonable to begin the process of engaging MACs and FIs to ensure they understand precisely what Congress has done and offer AACVPR assistance.

The various pulmonary societies will be meeting shortly to explore options for a proposal of code(s) for the AMA CPT Editorial Panel to consider.  While that process may support a simple shift from G codes to identical CPT codes, it is worthy of discussion among the societies because the coding decisions made in the immediate future will impact pulmonary rehabilitation for years to come. 

Thank you and congratulations to the members and leaders who contributed their time and energy to contact their senators and representatives for the passage of this important legislation.  The AACVPR Day on the Hill is an important event and we are committed to working closely with CMS to ensure that the payment for CR and PR services is appropriate and provides the resources needed to support the quality of care that patients deserve.   

As always, AACVPR will be working on behalf of the membership and the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.  We will continue to communicate with members with the latest information related to the new bill and its implications for reimbursement for pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation services.  Please watch for more information related to this important new law.

Your best source of communication regarding this bill is AACVPR, so if you are not an AACVPR member, please consider joining today to keep up-to-date on all the latest information your programs and practices will need!

This means Iowa has essentially 100% support in Congress for the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2007. Thanks to all of you who wrote letters and helped us convince them that this bill is in the best interest of our patients and programs. We are counting on the support of Senator Grassley for S 329 when this comes to a vote. Senator Grassley's office has informed us that he does not co-sponsor legislation as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. Your letter-writing has paid off in a big way! Please take the time to thank your legislators!