Outpatient rehabilitation program after cardiac event at a rehabilitation center in the conurbation Rhein-Main

According to the guidelines and standards for a comprehensive phase II reha bilitation a new outpatient/part-time outpatient program was developed and started at an existing rehabilitation center in January 1997. All patients of the new program were included in a follow-up study and compared with pat ients of the same center, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the outpatient mode, but wanted to perfom their rehabilitation in the full- time residential mode. Both groups were examined before, at the end and 6 m onths after the program. Until December 1998 118 patients after an acute ca rdiac event such as myocardial infarction, PTCA or heart surgery were rehab ilitated in the outpatient/part-time outpatient mode. The short- and medium-term results concerning somatic outcomes, e,g. the ri sk factor profile or the improvement of the maximum work capacity, were equ al in both groups. Comparing the direct costs for a 4-week rehabilitation, the part-time outpatient program was 26%, the outpatient program even 52% c heaper than the standard full-time residential program. The new program is as effective as the residential rehabilitation, but it i s cheaper. Because of the in- and exclusion criteria it is suitable for onl y a subgroup of cardiac patients, because of the demands and standards the new program it can be offered only in special rehabilitation centers.