Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Within a rural hospital setting, the current 30-day readmission rate for heart failure patients is 17.8 percent, as noted by a quality measure assessment tool. The benchmark rate within the healthcare system is 16.9 percent, indicating opportunity for improvement within the hospital. The primary objective of this quality improvement project is to assess the type and number of pharmacist interventions, when implementing a pharmacist-managed clinic for heart failure patients. The secondary objective is to decrease the 30-day readmission rate for heart failure patients through a coordination of care.
Methods: Heart failure patients, with a reduced ejection fraction less than 40 percent, will be identified prospectively between January 2019 and March 2019 prior to discharge. A referral will be placed with pharmacy as well as home telehealth. Pharmacy will contact the patient within 7 days of discharge. On the initial consult, a pharmacist will complete a medication review to assess the use of medications that decrease HFrEF mortality, contraindicated medications, dosing for HFrEF medications, and history of medication use. The 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation/ American Heart Association (ACCF/AHA) Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure will be utilized as a guide to provide care. Home telehealth will follow the patient’s weight daily with a standardized scale. A protocol for a home action plan will be developed, to be used as directed by pharmacy. Pharmacy will be alerted by home telehealth in the likelihood this protocol should be implemented, based on weight and symptoms. Additional follow-up will address laboratory values, management of symptoms, effectiveness of therapy, and patient compliance. The effectiveness of this coordination of care will be assessed via type of interventions made, number of interventions, and documented readmissions within 30 days of discharge.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Avery Aldridge
– Student, South Dakota State University, Schaumburg, IL120 Views