Date of Award
Spring 5-16-2020
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Jennifer Harris
Second Advisor
Dr. Amanda Alonzo
Third Advisor
Dr. Greg Belcher
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if follow up visits at the AdventHealth Heart Failure Clinic in Shawnee Mission, Kansas were effective in reducing the 30-day readmission rate of heart failure patients. It was also to determine if a patient’s BMI, EF, GFR, and A1c would improve or remain stable with follow-up appointments at the same clinic or if they would worsen. The author assessed this through a retrospective chart review and collection of data. Data was collected on the 30-day readmission rate of heart failure patients prior to the opening of the clinic in the fall of 2015 and compared to the 30-day readmission rate of patients who followed up at the clinic after a hospitalization for heart failure. Data was also collected on the EF, GFR, hemoglobin A1c, and BMI pre-clinic and compared to the data post-clinic. The population sampled include 58 males and 42 females with a current age range of 41 to 99. Findings showed that not only were the 30-day hospital readmissions reduced after the initiation of the AdventHealth heart failure clinic; the patients had a lower BMI and increased EF after following up and the heart failure clinic when compared to their BMI and EF before the opening of the clinic. These variables demonstrated that the heart failure clinic helped to improve the patient outcomes. Future studies should be completed to include larger sample sizes and include variables such as race, medication compliance, and diet compliance.
Recommended Citation
Stoughton, Sarah, "Effectiveness of Heart Failure Clinics on Reducing Hospital Readmissions" (2020). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project. 42.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/dnp/42
