title: Free heart failure clinic aims to cut readmissions.
abstract: Mountain State Health Alliance opened a free heart failure clinic after determining that patients' inability to get a timely follow-up appointment and financial issues were the cause of many readmissions. The clinic is in a convenient location, across the street from the hospital. The nurse practitioner who runs the program sees many of the patients while they are still in the hospital to inform them about the clinic. Interventions include help signing up for medication assistance, education for patients and family members, and ongoing support.
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004282:Documentation / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012944:Social Support; D013714:Tennessee; D017664:Uncompensated Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends