Method and apparatus for monitoring and systematizing rehabilitation data

1. A method for tracking physical work load intensities for an associated patient's progression through cardiovascular and/or pulmonary rehabilitation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic database, wherein the database assimilates and processes data relevant to comprehensive assessment and therapeutic rehabilitation of adult patients diagnosed with cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disease;

providing an electronic graphic user interface;

performing a graded exercise test to determine the associated patient's peak maximal functional work capacity derived via regression formula at volitional peak exertion;

providing a data entry portal within the database, wherein the data entry portal enables an associated clinician to enter at least one of the following: the patient's functional work capacity peak, maximal work output via the graded exercise test, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing;

electronically determining an initial workload and a training work load goal, based on the functional work capacity;

acquiring electronic data from the associated patients' rehabilitation exercises;

entering the data into the database;

creating an electronic graphical representation of the data, wherein the graphical representation comprises an initial workload goal line and a training exercise goal line;

electronically comparing the data with the initial workload and training work load goal; and

creating an electronic record of the comparison of the data with the work load goal and training work load goal, wherein the functional work capacity is displayed and measured in units of mean metabolic equivalents (METs) per session, and wherein the initial workload goal and training work load goal are calculated using the following formula:

IF: (GXT Session 0) Peak METs ≦ 5 METs

THEN: Init Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.4-0.5]

Trng. Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.5-0.6]

IF: (GXT Session 0) Peak METs > 5 METs

THEN: Init Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.5-0.6]

Trng. Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.6-0.7].

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein data comparison is displayed in real time, wherein data entered by an associated clinician is immediately shown in a patient daily work record.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the graphic user interface comprises at least an X-axis and a Y-axis, wherein the X-axis is a time scale and the Y-axis measures the functional work capacity, wherein the training work load goal, in METs, is entered into the database as horizontal target categories on the electronic graphic user interface.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the functional work capacity is placed into an associated category, wherein the category is determined by a governing body.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

establishing an exercise conditioning goal for the associated patient based upon the functional work capacity.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

creating an electronic record of the graphical representation of the goal and the data.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

creating an initial exercise prescription for the associated patient by using the electronic record of the real-time comparison between

i) the patient's real-time functional work capacity, and

ii) at least one corresponding goal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

establishing an exercise conditioning goal for the associated patient based upon the functional work capacity.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

creating an electronic record of the comparison of the data with the work load;

creating an electronic record of the graphical representation of the goal and the data; and,

monitoring patient progress with the electronic graphic use interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

creating an initial exercise prescription for the associated patient by using the electronic record of the real-time comparison between

i) the patient's real-time functional work capacity, and

ii) at least one corresponding goal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing graphical representation of the patient's physiologic data, wherein the data is chosen from the group comprising maximum heart rate, maximum blood pressure, and peak METs; and,

providing graphical representation of modality settings, wherein the modality setting is chosen from associated exercise equipment.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

in real time, selecting a first exercise modality currently in use by the associated patient;

transferring the selection into a data column, wherein the estimated workload is displayed;

selecting at least a second exercise modality in use by the associated patient subsequent to the use of the first exercise modality, wherein the estimated workload is displayed;

transferring the selection into the data column; and,

summing and averaging the estimated workloads to arrive at a mean workload.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the data with the workload further comprises the steps of:

comparing real time data from the associated patient to compare the real time data with the initial goal and the training goal;

displaying on the electronic graphic user interface the recorded digital comparison while simultaneously allowing review of an associated medical record.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out a method for tracking physical work load intensities for an associated patient's progression through cardiovascular and/or pulmonary rehabilitation, the instructions comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic database, wherein the database assimilates and processes data relevant to comprehensive assessment and therapeutic rehabilitation of adult patients diagnosed with cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disease;

providing an electronic graphic user interface;

performing a graded exercise test to determine the associated patient's peak maximal functional work capacity derived via regression formula at volitional peak exertion;

providing a data entry portal within the database, wherein the data entry portal enables an associated clinician to enter at least one of the following: the patient's functional work capacity peak, maximal work output via the graded exercise test, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing;

determining an initial workload and a training work load goal, based on the functional work capacity;

acquiring electronic data from the associated patients' rehabilitation exercises;

entering the data into the database;

creating an electronic graphical representation of the data, wherein the graphical representation comprises an initial workload goal line and a training exercise goal line; and,

comparing the data with the initial workload goal and training work load goal; and creating an electronic record of the comparison of the data with the work load goal and training work load goal; wherein the functional work capacity is displayed and measured in units of mean metabolic equivalents (METs) per session, and wherein the initial workload goal and training work load goal are calculated using the following formula:

IF: (GXT Session 0) Peak METs ≦ 5 METs

THEN: Init Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.4-0.5]

Trng. Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.5-0.6]

IF: (GXT Session 0) Peak METs > 5 METs

THEN: Init Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.5-0.6]

Trng. Goal (range) = [Value − 1] * [0.6-0.7].

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein data comparison is displayed in real time, wherein data entered by an associated clinician is immediately shown in a patient daily work record.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the graphic user interface comprises at least an X-axis and a Y-axis, wherein the X-axis is a time scale and the Y-axis measures the functional work capacity, wherein the training work load goal, in METs, is entered into the database as horizontal target categories on the electronic graphic user interface.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the functional work capacity is placed into an associated category, wherein the category is determined by a governing body.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:

establishing an exercise conditioning goal for the associated patient based upon the functional work capacity.