H.E.A.R.T. Home Page

Project Goal

The goal of the project is to produce a product that increases patient involvement by providing immediate feedback to the patient, and historical data on the performance of the patient's prescribed exercise. H.E.A.R.T. is not meant to replace medical professionals and their diagnoses, it is a tool that is used to provide medical professionals with historical data on the patient's exercise routine.

Problem Description

There are 22 million people worldwide living with heart failure (Svoboda, Binns, Dyer, & Morgenstern, 2008). Of those 22 million people, over five million people in the United States are living with heart failure, and there are over 550 thousand new cases each year. Eighty percent of these five million cases do not take steps in enhancing their life by completing a recommended cardiac rehabilitation program. By not completing the rehabilitation program, a patient's quality of life is lowered, which usually leads to premature death. Sixty-three percent of patients who do not complete their rehabilitation program will die of heart complications (Mini ECG gets heart attack rehab patients mobile, 2008). Beaumont Hospital says "Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of the program" (Cardiac Rehabilitation - Cardiac Rehabilitation, 2008).

One of the reasons for a cardiac patient to not complete their rehabilitation is not feeling involved in the program and not believing the positive impact rehabilitation could have on their recovery. A study was conducted that demonstrated if a patient is involved in their rehabilitation program and believed that the program will improve their quality of life, then they were more likely to complete the rehabilitation program. This in turn will increase rehabilitation retention rate, lower the patient's risk of experiencing future heart complications, and lessen hospitalization.

Project Objective

A system that gives rehabilitation centers and specialists historical data that can be used to improve the quality of life for cardiac patients.