Reducing 30-day Readmission for Heart Failure Patients

Reducing 30-day Readmission for Heart Failure Patients

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Reducing 30-day Readmission for Heart Failure Patients

Many people suffer different complications as they grow old. Heart failure is one of the conditions that is common to adults all over the world and studies show that it has been declared a worldwide pandemic. This is a condition where the heart ability to efficiently pump or fill with blood is reduced. HF is classified into: HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HF mid-range ejection fraction (HfmrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HfpEF). Despite the condition being linked to old age, studies have shown that HF patients might differ depending on different comorbidities, economic, health care systems and aetiologies. In Africa, for example, most HF patients are younger than those from other regions with the leading cause of HF being hypertensive heart disease while in Asia, Australia, South America and Middle East, the leading cause is coronary artery. Most hypertensive patients are male. Other comorbidities in high prevalence in the Middle East include obesity, hypertension, diabetes and valve disease.

United States gets more than a million adults hospitalized every year due to heart failure. Among these patients, 27% are readmitted within thirty days of discharge (Giuliano, K. K., Danesh, V., & Funk, M., 2016). Admission costs are quite expensive and heart failure is one condition that has contributed to high health system expenditures among all cardiovascular diseases in the United states. Hospital readmission has been a global health burden with no successful measures to fully avoid it. Despite many therapy and prevention attempts, HF morbidity and mortality rates are still quite high. This paper suggests possible ways of lowering HF incidences as well as reducing heart failure early hospital readmission through improving patient care.

HF patients should be taken to appropriate health facilities and ensure that they are accorded the care they deserve. One of the reasons for readmission is inadequate skilled registered nurses. These are the individuals who understand the proper care that a patient deserves. Nurse staffing should be prioritized. Studies have shown that the more the qualified registered nurses, the less the rates of early (30-day) readmission (Blouin, A. S., & Podjasek, K., 2019). A nurse’s go-goal is to provide a patient with safe and high quality form of care. Increased staffing of qualified and registered nurses give more opportunities to engage better in activities that would ultimately reduce readmission as opposed to few unqualified nurses which may result in missed care (Giuliano, K. K., Danesh, V., & Funk, M., 2016).

Another thing to consider is to ensure timely and effective patient transition. This ensures that the patient is attended to in time giving the patient quality care through avoiding diagnosis doubts that might arise due to delayed patient attendance. I would also suggest educating patients prior to discharge on how to take care of themselves. Comparisons between the educated and non-educated patients have shown higher rates of early readmission for the uneducated patients. The hospital should also ensure follow-up for patients who have just been discharged. This is to check how the patient is faring and if they are following instructions from the hospital, for example medicine prescriptions.

An alternative to treating heart failure is ensuring prevention measures. Heart failure is a condition that is associated with old age and ways of life. The first step is to enlighten the population on the causes of the disease. Everyone should be made aware of the incidences that could lead to HF. Old people should know how to take good care of themselves, for example, through proper diet intake and exercising. There should be free screening services targeting especially the middle and the old age. Any detected case should be worked on as early as possible and appropriate therapy be provided.

Heart failure condition has been extensively studied in the United States with a focus on readmission. Outcomes show that despite many attempts to reduce readmission, morbidity and mortality rates are still quite high. Cases of unplanned readmission are on the increase and it one of the reasons for high expenses in hospitals. HF is a problem not only in the US but worldwide. People continue to grow old yet most of them insensitive on how to take good care of themselves through healthy lifestyles. It is therefore a research challenge to look for better treatment for the global pandemic.

Reference

Blouin, A. S., & Podjasek, K. (2019). The Continuing Saga of Nurse Staffing: Historical and Emerging Challenges. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(4), 221-227.

Giuliano, K. K., Danesh, V., & Funk, M. (2016). The Relationship Between Nurse Staffing and 30-Day Readmission for Adults With Heart Failure. The Journal of nursing administration, 46(1), 25–29.