Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major and growing public health problem, affecting 5.3 million people, mostly elderly, and is the underlying cause for 12 to 15 million office visits and 6.5 million hospital days each year. Because of inadequate treatment, discharge guidance, and follow-up, many patients with CHF are caught in a “revolving door” process that ultimately culminates in deterioration and rehospitalization.
High rehospitalization rates drive burgeoning costs and also provide a signal that current management approaches to CHF are less than optimal. Evidence-based treatment approaches offer opportunities to reduce mortality and rehospitalization rates for patients with CHF.
One of the most promising changes developed as part of the Transforming Care at the Bedside initiative is “creating an ideal transition home” for patients who are being discharged from medical and surgical units within hospitals.