Key success criteria for the creation of an outpatient heart failure clinic

What is required for the efficient management of a multi-disciplinary heart care team?

Heart failure patients can be a challenging population to manage in the cardiovascular arena. As the prevalence of heart failure continues to be significant, the American Heart Association 2019 Statistics Data update reports 6.2 million adults had heart failure between the years of 2013-2016, and close to 4,000 were on a heart transplant list. What opportunities do we have to improve the care of the heart failure patient and maximize the caregiver and patient experience?

As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to focus on improving the health of our consumers. Certainly, prevention remains at the center when we spotlight cardiovascular disease. The AHA refers to them as “Life’s Simple 7”. This refers to those key behaviors in which we can monitor to decrease our risk for development of heart disease. Eliminating smoking and increasing physical exercise to 60 minutes per day go a long way in prevention. Focusing on a well-balanced nutritional diet to curb obesity, which is currently reported at 37.7% of all adults, and close monitoring cholesterol targets is critical. It is documented that 46% of all adults have some degree of hypertension, and along with the management of diabetes, it can be challenging but necessary for long-term management of the cardiovascular patient. 

Read the article as published by DOTmed at Key success criteria for the creation of an outpatient heart failure clinic.