title: Improving Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Class III Heart Failure.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is a serious medical problem in the United States and is placing a financial strain on the health care system. It is the leading cause of mortality and as the overall incidence continues to increase, so does the economic impact on the health care system. Innovative treatment options, in the form of disease management programs and implantable cardiac devices, such as the CorVue capable implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pacemaker, offer the promise of an enhanced quality of life and reduced mortality. Even with these advances, HF continues to be a challenge. Studies reviewing HF management programs have shown promising results. However, more studies are needed to determine which combination of HF management interventions has the greatest financial impact and yields the best patient outcomes. The objective of the research study was to compare 30-day readmission rates of patients implanted with the CorVue capable ICD pacemaker with patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) with no implanted device. The aim of the research focused on the usefulness of intrathoracic impedance monitoring alerts in guiding empirical treatment of patients with CHF to prevent HF readmissions. Methodology included a retrospective medical chart review, comparing 30-day readmission events among patients with class III CHF who received home health intervention with similar patients implanted with the CorVue ICD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Care, The Washington Hospital Health System, Washington, Pennsylvania (Dr Shapiro); School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pennsylvania (Dr Macci Bires); College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York (Ms Waterstram-Rich); and Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania (Dr Cline).
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Angela Macci
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bires
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waterstram-Rich
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Cline
mesh_terms: D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States