Search engine scans cardiac catheterization and echocardiogram reports, emergency department,
history and physical, operate, progress and radiology notes to include them in the HF Crawl List.
Included patients with the following phrases:
 fluid/volume overload
 acute/decompensated chronic heart failure/CHF/HF
 CHF/HF/HFrEF exacerbation
 exacerbation heart failure

volume
overload

HF
exacerbation

acute
HF

HF Crawl List
Excluded patients with the following phrases:
 grade 1
 no vascular congestion seen/identified
 cardiothoracic surgery post-operative progress note
 not/no/suspect/possible/questionable/potential exacerbation

Managing Heart Failure
Every Day!
• Weigh yourself first thing every morning
after you urinate.
• Take your medicines as directed.
• Check for swelling or shortness of breath.
• No more than 2000 mg of sodium and 6 to
8 cups of liquid per day.

Warning! Call the cardiology office if:
• Weight is up 3 pounds in a day or 5
pounds in a week.
• Increased shortness of breath or cough.
• Swelling or bloating.
• Mild chest pains.
• Trouble sleeping.
STOP! Go to the ER or call 911 if you:
• Are struggling to breathe.
• Have new or severe chest pains.
• Have confusion, dizziness, or fainting.
Cardiology Office:
Phone #:

Heart Failure Interventions to Decrease 30-day Readmission

1

Recognition of HF Admission
• Patient Identification
• Cardiology Consult on
High Risk Patients
• Inpatient Care
Coordination

2

Redesign Transition of Care

• HF toolkit with
Resources/Tools/Education
• 3-7 Day Follow-up
• Home Health Consultation

3

• Daily HF Huddle
• Consistent HF orders
• Transparency of HF
admission
• GDMT/Documentation

• Outpatient Heart Failure
Navigator
• Pharmacy Input-Medications
to Bedside
• Self-referral to HF Clinic

Enhance Follow-up Care
• Medication Reconciliation
• Consultations (Community
Support, Cardiac Rehab,
Nutrition, Advanced HF)

•
•
•
•

GDMT titration
Lab/Study Follow-up
Communication of Plan
HF education/Self-care