Training cardiac rehabilitation coordinators

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic growth in the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services throughout Ireland and the UK. However, this growth has not been matched by the development of formal training for cardiac rehabilitation coordinators. The present paper presents a model for cardiac rehabilitation coordinator training with reference to the key academic and practical points of such a programme. A multidisciplinary approach to training affords potential coordinators with the understanding necessary to coordinate a range of professionals, and thereby provide the recommended multifactorial programme to service users. Formalized training contributes to acceptable standards of both clinical practice and service delivery and advances expertise in audit and service representation. Such training may promote recognition of career specialization for cardiac rehabilitation coordinators.