Caring for a Patient with Heart Failure: Reducing Hospitalization Risk

Course overview

Heart failure (HF) is a common diagnosis, affecting up to about 5.7 million adults in the US. It is a leading cause for hospitalization, with an estimated annual cost to the country of $30.7 billion (CDC, 2016). Treatment of this chronic and progressive condition includes medications, reduction of dietary sodium, and daily activity. Many hospitalizations for heart failure exacerbations are preventable when contributing factors are understood, when attention is paid to early signs/symptoms, and when the focus is on patient and family self-care management. This course provides the home care clinician with an overview of heart failure, including basic pathophysiology and medical management and evidence-based recommendations aimed at prevention of rehospitalization.