Heart Failure

Already accounting for more hospital admissions than any other diagnosis of people age 65 and older, heart failure is a major and growing public health problem. It affects 5.3 million people, mostly elderly, with 660,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the US. It is the underlying cause for 12 to 15 million office visits and 6.5 million hospital days each year.

As the elderly population grows in coming decades, the prevalence of heart failure is expected to increase substantially. Heart failure also carries an economic burden, costing the U.S. nearly $35 billion per year.

Readmission rates are high for heart failure patients signaling that current management practices are not sufficient. Evidence-based treatment will help reduce mortality, rehospitalization and cost for patients with heart failure.

One key care component that should be provided to all heart failure patients without contraindications is ACE-inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) at discharge for patients with systolic dysfunction.  

Primaris has free quality improvement resources for this topic.

	System Change Tools > Chart Stickers Left Ventricular Systolic Function Chart Stickers Publication #: MO-06-10-HOSP-GEN The chart stickers are set up to be printed on Avery labels number 5263 and will print 10 labels to a sheet. Stickers measure 2" x 4" label layout hf chart sticker 2 x 4.pdf
	Resource Materials > Clinical Education Kansas City Quality Improvement Consortium's guidelines for the management of heart failure guidelines.pdf
	Resource Materials > Clinical Education Overview overview.pdf
	Resource Materials > Clinical Education Improvement Strategies imp_strategies.pdf
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Admission Orders Publication #: MO-03-05-HTF htf_standing_admissions_order.doc
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Admission Orders Publication #: MO-03-06-HTF htf_COUMOU.doc
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Admission/Subsequent Day Orders Publication #: MO-03-07-HTF htf_carepathway.doc
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Pathway Publication #: MO-03-07-HTF htf_carepathway2.doc
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Admission Order A Missouri hospital example. Heartland chf admission 10-3-03.doc
	Resource Materials > Modifiable Materials Heart Failure Discharge Instructions heartfailture discharge instructions.pdf
	Resource Materials > Patient Education Take Care of Your Heart Brochure Publication #: MO-06-42-ACM This patient education brochure offers guidelines for care following heart failure diagnosis. heartcarebrochure.pdf
	Resource Materials > Patient Education Heart Failure: Know Your Signals Publication #: MO-05-04-ACM This quick reference simplifies the warning signs of heart failure. HEART SIGNALS Flyer.pdf
	System Change Tools > Posters Heart Failure Discharge Instructions Poster Publication #: MO-04-01-HTF Lists important instructions for all patients discharged with heart failure. Measures 12" x 12". MO-04-01-HRF.pdf

Contact a Primaris regional representative for more information: