The Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation Project (Randomized Trial of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Delivered Remotely Through the Internet) led by Dr. Scott Lear in collaboration with Dr. Joanna Bates, Dr. Andrew Ignaszewski, Dr. Kenneth Prkachin, and Dr. Sammy Chan has been featured on The Tyee - an independent daily online magazine - and Canadian Television (CTV).
CTV’s Canada AM program interviewed Dr. Scott Lear regarding his follow-up research of the study that found interactive internet-based cardiac rehabilitation can help save lives. People residing in rural areas or small urban areas experiencing heart disease don't have access to the facilities of a cardiac rehabilitation program. Dr. Lear says that his research aims to bring these services into the homes of the patients so that they can have access to the same professionals, the same guidance and the same education that people in large urban centres benefit from.
CFAX Radio in Victoria and The Tyee also talked with Dr. Lear. The study which piloted in 2007 demonstrated that delivering virtual cardiac rehabilitation programs to people in their homes is as effective as hospital-based rehabilitation programs. Dr. Lear and his team at the BC Alliance on Telehealth Policy and Research have been awarded a $284,000 grant by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC to continue investigating the potential of supplying people in rural communities with virtual cardiac rehabilitation.
Click here to view the article, Virtual Doctors the Future of B.C.'s Heart Health? on the The Tyee.
Click here to Dr. Scott Lear being interviewed on CTV's Canada AM.
