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History and Purpose of UPCRA

The Upper Plains Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association (UPCRA) was formed in 1988 with the following goals in mind:

• Enhance the exchange of information between cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs and provide a directory of programs and professionals in the region.
• Provide professional education through conferences, scientific meetings and publications.
• Establish standards of practice for programs in the Upper Plains Area.
• Provide a unified voice regarding issues in rehabilitation to state legislature, insurance carriers and federal agencies.
• Promote an understanding of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and to increase awareness of related healthcare services.
• Encourage and provide information for the development of new cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs throughout the Upper Plains Region.

Recognizing that the professions involved in providing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation represent multidisciplinary fields, UPCRA is dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, the enhancement of communications between professionals, the promotion of scientific inquiry, and the advancement of education for the benefit of healthcare professionals and the public.