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Improving Veteran Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation
Improving Veteran Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All Veterans hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, or systolic heart failure at the three participating VA medical centers (Nashville, Dallas, and Gainesville). Exclusion Criteria: * No exclusion criteria during the intervention period * however, post-hoc analysis will exclude Veterans with documented reasons preventing CR attendance including death during hospitalization or within 30 days of discharge, discharge to inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities, significant cognitive impairment, high-risk ventricular arrhythmias, or explicit refusal of CR services.
About the study
This study will test whether the Veterans Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Program (VCR2P) improves cardiac rehabilitation participation by studying 816 Veterans across three VA medical centers in Nashville, Dallas, and Gainesville over 12 months. The trial compares referral rates from the 6 months before implementing the program to 6 months after, using a "before and after" design since randomization would be impractical. The study will measure whether the program increases the proportion of eligible Veterans who receive cardiac rehabilitation referrals and whether more Veterans actually attend rehabilitation sessions. Additionally, focus groups with physicians, nurses, and Veterans will identify what helps or hinders the program's success, providing essential insights for expanding this intervention to other VA facilities nationwide if it proves effective.
What is being tested
- Veterans Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Program (behavioral)
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development · Participants: 816 · Started: Feb 23, 2026
Contact the study team
- Justin M Bachmann, MD MPH · Phone: (615) 327-4751
- Ray Stokes Peebles, MD · Phone: (615) 327-4751
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07079358
Locations in the U.S.
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.