Cardiac rehabilitation in New Zealand-moving forward.

Modern guideline-based cardiac rehabilitation provides an evidence-based, cost effective and comprehensive approach to reduce re-infarction and mortality. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to support self-management, improves psychological and social functioning and adherence to recommended life-style changes and medications. The challenge is to broaden uptake of cardiac rehabilitation, increase participation in supervised exercise programs and ensure that healthy behaviours are maintained in the long term. Shared care planning between cardiac rehabilitation specialists and primary health providers could improve long-term adherence by ensuring continuity of care of patients who have completed a Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program, either facility or home based.