Mass General now offering virtual cardiac rehabilitation

Mass General Brigham (MGB) in Somerville, Massachusetts, has entered into a partnership to expand the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine's Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program, one of only three intensive cardiac rehabilitation models nationally approved by Medicare.

The partnership, with virtual cardiac rehabilitation platform Recora, is characterized by “evidence-based stress management, mind-body medicine, nutritional guidance, supervised exercise and standard cardiac risk factor reduction,” the hospital said. 

According to MGB, the BHI ICR model has demonstrated strong clinical outcomes: In Medicare’s Lifestyle Modification Program demonstration, participants showed lower mortality at one and three years compared to matched controls, and significantly fewer hospitalizations and decreased overall costs per beneficiary.

The program will enable virtual and in-person options to patients nationwide, the hospital said.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT 

The BHI ICR program was originally developed by Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiologist and pioneer in mind-body medicine, said MGB.

“For decades, Dr. Herbert Benson championed the role of stress management and resiliency in improving health outcomes,” said Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of BHI-MGH. “This collaboration with Recora honors Dr. Benson’s vision by expanding his innovative cardiac wellness model to benefit patients beyond our hospital’s walls.”

According to the hospital, the model has already shown potential. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that patients enrolled in the program significantly improved compared to those in traditional, center‑based rehabilitation. 

Results at one year showed a 38% reduction in hospital readmissions, a 44% decrease in emergency department visits and a 16% reduction in total healthcare costs.

THE LARGER TREND

MGB maintains the move comes at a critical time for cardiovascular care.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, yet participation in cardiac rehabilitation is frequently lower than 25%, mainly due to access barriers. Stress has been increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease, according to a study in the Journal Nature.

ON THE RECORD

“Expanding access to evidence-based, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is vital for both our patients and our health systems,” said Dr. Kaavya Paruchuri, clinical operations director for cardiovascular medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. “By extending the ICR program through both in-person and virtual platforms, we can reach patients who might otherwise have no access to cardiac rehab, particularly those living in rural communities or healthcare deserts. This approach not only broadens access but also has the potential to deliver meaningful improvements in outcomes and quality of life for individuals with cardiovascular disease.”