Heart Failure

Heart Failure National Project Overview

Heart failure accounts for more than 700,000 hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries every year, and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The National Heart Failure Project focuses on increasing the appropriate evaluation of left ventricular systolic function and the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function in patients hospitalized with heart failure. 

Public Health Importance

Heart failure is a uniquely appropriate target for quality improvement efforts. It is a common disease in the elderly, accounting for more hospital admissions than any other diagnosis in patients over the age of 65. The prevalence of heart failure is rising dramatically with the aging of the US population. In addition, heart failure is associated with 20 to 30 percent one-year mortality rates in the elderly and causes significant functional limitation. Estimates of annual expenditures on heart failure in the United States range from $10 billion to $40 billion.

Main Objective

To decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure in Medicare beneficiaries. 

HF Measures

• HF-1 Discharge Instructions
• HF-2 Evaluation of LVS Function
• HF-3 ACEI or ARB for LVSD
• HF-4 Adult Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling

Related Links (The following links open new windows):

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• Heart Failure Society of America
• MedQIC National Heart Failure Quality Improvement Project

WebExes

4/13/10: Management of Chronic Heart Failure, Ann Peterson, MSN, CNS, St. Anthony Central Hospital

WebEx Recording | Handout

3/9/10: Pathophysiology and Assessment, Carrie Horton, MSN, CNS, CCRN, APRN-BC, RN, St. Anthony North Hospital

WebEx Recording | Handout

1/12/10: Making Your Data Help You: Effective Abstraction and Utilization, Mary Paulsen, MSN, American Heart Association

WebEx Recording | Handout

12/8/2009: Teaching Staff to Provide Appropriate Discharge Instructions to HF Patients, Sally Cudrik, RN, Memorial Health System

WebEx Recording | Handout

11/10/2009: How to Achieve Staff Buy In: Missy Jensen, MSN, North Colorado Medical Center

WebEx Recording | Handout

10/13/2009: Building the Heart Failure Team: Team Members, Roles, and Team Building and Locating the HF Patients, Missy Jensen, MSN, North Colorado Medical Center

WebEx Recording | Handout

9/8/2009: Defining the Performance Measures, Ann Peterson, RN, MS, CNS, St. Anthony Central Hospital

WebEx Recording | Handout

Presentation from WebEx on JUNE 9, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Overview of the ACC/AHA Heart Failure Guidelines Update Released in March

Presentation from WebEx on MAY 12, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Hospital Opportunities in the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009

Presentation from WebEx on april 14, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

The Art and Science of Concurrent Chart Review

Presentation from WebEx on March 10, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Optimal Heart Failure Management using the Chronic Disease Model

Presentation from WebEx on February 10, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

The Journey from Heart "Failure" to Success: A Harborview Medical Center QI Perspective

Presentation from WebEx on January 13, 2009

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

North Puget Sound Cardiac Level I System of Care

Presentation from WebEx on December 9, 2008

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Eligibility and Use of Evidence-Based Therapies as a Function of Risk in Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure

Presentation from WebEx on November 11, 2008

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Transition to Home: Creating an Ideal Transition Home form Patients with HF

Presentation from WebEx on October 14, 2008

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Therapeutic Induced Hypothermia

Presentation from WebEx on September 9, 2008

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Devise therapy for Heart Failure: What's New?

Presentation from WebEx on June 10, 2008

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Congestive Heart Failure: Can these patients benefit from a Rehabilitation Program.

Presentation from WebEx on May 13, 2008

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Boards on Board

Presentation from WebEx on April 8, 2008

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Updates from the American College of Cardiology

Audio Only

Presentation from WebEx on March 11, 2008

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AMI Challenges: Strategies for Success

Presentation from WebEx on February 12, 2008

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Hypertension How Nurses Can Make A Difference

Presentation from WebEx on January 8, 2008

The following presentation is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

Using Lean Principles for Clinical Quality Improvement

Presentations from WebEx on December 11, 2007

The following presentations are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free of charge at Adobe's website.

• Congestive Heart Failure
• Motivate Everyone
• Tobacco Free Workplace

For more information about this project (including clinical background, performance measures, and references) please visit MedQIC or contact Marcy Cameron, Project Coordinator, at mcameron@coqio.sdps.org or 303-784-5795.