Heart Failure Care
Nearly 5 million Americans have heart failure, and 1.3 million of those people end up being readmitted to the hospital – in fact heart failure has the highest readmission rate of all chronic diseases. Readmissions are stressful for patients and their families, and they’re costly to hospitals.
Many of these return trips to the hospital can be prevented by the use of nurse-led care-coordination programs geared toward educating heart-failure patients and empowering them to self-manage their condition.
BrightStar Clinical Pathways is the first program of its kind in the homecare industry, and it’s modeled after nationally recognized protocols that resulted in a 50% reduction in hospital readmissions.
The BrightStar Clinical Pathways for Heart Failure focuses on educating heart-failure patients and working with them to manage the key aspects of the disease like:
- Medication and plan of care adherence
- Weight tracking
- Exercise, diet/nutrition
- Symptom monitoring
What happens during a BrightStar Clinical Pathways for Heart Failure visit?
H-E-A-R-T C-A-R-E!
BrightStar Registered Nurse will:
- Hear your concerns
- Evaluate your condition and Encourage you
- Assess signs and symptoms
- Review the plan of care with you and your family
- Teach you about heart failure and how to manage it
BrightStar CNA or HHA will:
- Check weight; home safety; food, medication, and equipment supplies
- Assist with activities and exercise
- Review plan for the visit and reassure you
- Exit by asking if there’s anything else they can do for you or the family
Exclusive BrightStar Clinical Pathways Resources for heart failure patients and their families
- Knowledge Guidebook – Think of this as the story of your condition that you, your caregiver, your physician, and your family can reference to track your progress.
- Client education material – Informative, illustrated packet provides useful information on how to stay healthy
- Symptom alert – Easy-to-read reference card helps you monitor your symptoms:
- Green = I am doing well
- Yellow = I should notify a family member, caregiver, or doctor
- Red = Time to call 911.
- www.CareTogether.com – Free online resource for family caregivers that lets the individual and family coordinate the caregiving schedule and communicate with each other. Links to BrightStar calendar so family knows when and whom will be visiting from BrightStar.
Additional BrightStar Clinical Pathways include:
