The Optimize Heart Failure Care Program: Initial lessons from global implementation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.02.033
• Publication Date: 2017-02-13T10:15:36Z
• Authors: Martin R. Cowie; Yuri M. Lopatin; Clara Saldarriaga; Cândida Fonseca; David Sim; Jose Antonio Magaña; Denilson Albuquerque; Marcelo Trivi; Gustavo Moncada; Baldomero A. Gonz...; Mario Osvaldo Spe...; Edward Chung
• Keywords: Best practice

Hospitalization for heart failure (HF) places a major burden on healthcare services worldwide, and is strong predictor of increased mortality especially in the first three months after discharge. Though undesirable, hospitalization an opportunity to optimize HF therapy advise clinicians patients about importance continued adherence medication regular monitoring.The Optimize Heart Failure Care Program (www.optimize-hf.com), which has been implemented 45 countries, designed improve outcomes following through inexpensive initiatives prescription appropriate drug therapies, patient education engagement, post-discharge planning. It includes best practice clinical protocols local adaptation, pre- checklists, 'My Passport', printed smart phone application understanding encourage involvement care treatment adherence.Early experience suggests that factors leading successful implementation include support from specialists or 'local leaders', educational meetings participating professionals, multidisciplinary collaboration, full integration post-hospital discharge checklists across services. The helping raise awareness generate useful data current practice. showing how good evidence-based can be achieved use simple clinician patient-focused tools. Preliminary results suggest optimization pharmacological achievable Program, with little new investment. Further collection will lead greater impact key indicators success.