Evaluation of provider support for a supervised exercise therapy protocol in patients with symptomatic PAD: A quality improvement project.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects more than 8 million individuals in the United States and many patients diagnosed with PAD are not receiving supervised exercise therapy which considered first line therapy in a program of comprehensive evidence-based care. This lack of evidence-based therapy can lead to reduced functional status, limited mobility, poor quality of life, and contribute to escalating healthcare costs in the population of patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease.

Problem: An analysis conducted on the current treatment practices for patients with symptomatic PAD by practitioners at a private cardiology group practice in Eastern North Carolina revealed that supervised exercise therapy (SET) was not prescribed for their population of patients with PAD.