Add your comment below for Resolution #2
|
|
Comments Submitted by Most Recent-Updated by MSMA
Having been the Medical Director of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab program at Nevada Regional Medical Center (Nevada,MO.) for 25 years, I certainly agree that this program is beneficial for rural patients. I always visited our Rehab area 3 times a week - which met Medicare requirements. Our Rehab space was close to the NRMC ER, where a physician was present at all times. The onsite director was an RN who had ICU training and was ACLS certified, with an AED on site. This continues to be one of the most successful and heavily utilized programs at NRMC, and has benefitted hundreds of our citizens. This arrangement and staffing would be possible in most rural hospitals. I support the spirit and feasibility of this Resolution. Thanks! -Warren Lovinger MD MACP , Representing self. Writing on behalf of the Medical Student Section Board, to offer support of the spirit of this resolution and seek clarification from the authors and the Council. We agree with the authors that access to cardiac rehab services are essential to patients in rural communities. However, the resolution does not indicate how many patients in Missouri are affected by the current guidelines and how many would have increased access if new regulations are implemented. The new language proposed in the Resolved clause is vague in regard to "general supervision" by a physician and without specific clarification, this will be difficult to implement. We also wonder if other states have similar requirements for cardiac rehab and if outcomes for patient safety events were significantly different. We thank the authors for bringing this issue forward and hope further information can clarify the need and impact of such actions. -Samantha Lund, Medical Student Section Board |
