title: Improving quality of life and decreasing readmissions in heart failure patients in a multidisciplinary transition-to-care clinic.
abstract: The purpose was to pilot the feasibility and impact of a 4-week transition-to-care program on quality of life for heart failure patients.
  
  
  
  The transition from the acute care to the outpatient setting has been shown to be a critical time with heart failure patients.
  
  
  
  A pre- and post-test design was used. Quality of Life, measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, and hospital readmissions were the outcomes. A convenience sample of 50 persons was recruited into a multidisciplinary transition-to-care program for heart failure patients following hospitalization. Thirty-six (72%) completed the study.
  
  
  
  There was a significant improvement in quality of life. Men reported greater improvement in physical symptoms and less emotional distress when compared to women. Only 2 participants were readmitted within 30 days.
  
  
  
  Study findings support improved quality of life and decreased readmission rates following a multidisciplinary transition-to care program for heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute's Heart Success Clinic, Carolinas Medical Center-Main, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203, USA. Electronic address: cdwhitak@uncc.edu.
authors.forename: Charlene D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Whitaker-Brown
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
authors.forename: Judith B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.affiliation: Indiana State University, College of Nursing, Health, & Human Services, Landsbaum Center 217, 200 North Seventh Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Southard
authors.affiliation: Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute's Heart Success Clinic, Carolinas Medical Center-Main, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gulati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D000069341:Transitional Care / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Heart failure; Hospitalization; Quality of life; Readmissions; Transition-to-care