Low-technology heart failure care in home health: improving patient outcomes.
This article reports a study that pilot tested the effectiveness of a low-technology structured intervention to standardize home healthcare management of patients with heart failure (HF) within a home health agency (HHA). The purpose of this study was to use low-technology equipment to improve care for patients with HF enrolled in a home health agency. The 9-week intervention was targeted toward the home health nurses and included telephone and home visits, a teaching tool, digital scales, and a log/notebook filled out by the patients in the study. Patient outcomes included decreased rehospitalization, decreased symptoms of HF, and increased quality of life.
Quinn
Christina
C
Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA. cquinn2@emory.edu
D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D013664:Teaching Materials; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration