Heart Failure Quality Measures
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA)
2005 Heart Failure Data Standards
authors suggest that heart failure education programs should begin with an individual
patient assessment for factors that interfere with learning such as language
barriers, vision problems, depression, and lack of support.
HF education is most effective when it takes place over time, addressing educational barriers
as appropriate. Heart failure educational offerings may vary but should include information on the following: activity, diet, medications, medical follow-up, weight monitoring, and symptom management.
Patient education may be provided by various health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, dieticians, and pharmacists. Multidisciplinary educational programs have been shown to reduce hospitalizations and improve quality of life for patients with heart failure as well (
Journal of the American Medical Association
, March 17, 2004; 291(11): 1358-67
).
St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center offers individualized multi-disciplinary (physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists) heart failure education, including topics such as: activity, diet, medications, medical follow-up, weight monitoring, and symptom management, on an ongoing basis.