title: Classification and Quality Standards of Heart Failure Units: Scientific Consensus of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.
abstract: The prevalence of heart failure remains high and represents the highest disease burden in Spain. Heart failure units have been developed to systematize the diagnosis, treatment, and clinical follow-up of heart failure patients, provide a structure to coordinate the actions of various entities and personnel involved in patient care, and improve prognosis and quality of life. There is ample evidence on the benefits of heart failure units or programs, which have become widespread in Spain. One of the challenges to the analysis of heart failure units is standardization of their classification, by determining which "programs" can be identified as heart failure "units" and by characterizing their complexity level. The aim of this article was to present the standards developed by the Spanish Society of Cardiology to classify and establish the requirements for heart failure units within the SEC-Excellence project.
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: manuelanguita@secardiologia.es.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Anguita Sánchez
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Lambert Rodríguez
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Bover Freire
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas (IMIM) y Programa de Insuficiencia Cardiaca, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Comín Colet
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors: María G
authors: MG
authors: Crespo Leiro
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: González Vílchez
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Nicolás
authors: N
authors: Manito Lorite
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Segovia Cubero
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, Spain.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Ruiz Mateas
authors: Secretaría técnica, Proyecto SEC-Excelente, Elola Consultores, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Elola Somoza
authors: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Íñiguez Romo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D063005:Health Information Systems / Q000592:standards; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D013030:Spain; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Heart failure; Heart failure units; Insuficiencia cardiaca; Proyecto SEC-Excelente; SEC-Excellence project; Unidades de insuficiencia cardiaca