Introduction
Readmissions have become a serious problem in the modern healthcare system, especially among high-risk patient populations. One of these populations is patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), a chronic condition characterized by the inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently. The high readmission rates of patients with CHF may be due to various factors, including the complexity of the disease and comorbidities (Jahmunah et al., 2019). Therefore, it is essential to explain the rationale for readmission in patients with CHF and to present evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing readmissions in this population.
Rationale for Readmissions
Heart failure is a decrease in the heart’s performance and its ability to provide adequate blood supply to the body. As a result, various organs do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. Meanwhile, there are factors that influence the increase in the rate of re-hospitalization of people with CHF (Jahmunah et al., 2019). Chronic heart failure leads to the development of hypoxia of the organs, and acute heart failure is dangerous for the development of pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. One of the reasons for readmission is that the disease is constantly progressing, and patients feel uncomfortable (Jahmunah et al., 2019). Exacerbations of CHF occur due to factors such as non-compliance with treatment, poor nutrition, or inability to control fluid balance. Therefore, patients can experience acute decompensation, which leads to their re-hospitalization.
Moreover, CHF often occurs in conjunction with other diseases, which negatively affects people’s health. Many patients have comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and renal dysfunction (Jahmunah et al., 2019). As a result, these diseases can complicate treatment and increase the risk of re-hospitalization due to CHF. In addition, comorbidities affect treatment methods, and doctors need to coordinate medications and ensure they do not adversely affect patients’ health. For example, when medication is prescribed, people with CHF need special treatment regimens. The reason is that if they take several medications prescribed by different doctors to treat different diseases, it can cause anaphylactic shock. Furthermore, incorrect treatment regimens also lead to side effects and repeated hospitalization with new complications.
It is worth noting that people with CHF should follow their doctors’ recommendations even at home. Moreover, doctors provide strict recommendations to patients with CHF, which require additional training and self-discipline (Groenewegen et al., 2020). CHF requires strict adherence to dietary restrictions, fluid intake monitoring, and physical activity recommendations during treatment. Failure to comply with these self-care measures can lead to worsening of symptoms and re-hospitalization. After readmission, treatment in hospitals requires more time and more potent drugs (Groenewegen et al., 2020). Thus, repeated hospitalization due to CHF reduces the chances of patients recovering quickly and replacing medications with preventive measures.
Evidence-Based Interventions
To address the problem of readmissions in patients with CHF, healthcare providers can implement evidence-based interventions. In order to proactively manage the disease and prevent the progression of CHF, effective education should be provided to patients. This requires doctors to provide them with information, including its progression, symptoms, and self-care strategies (Groenewegen et al., 2020). This information is essential because it allows patients to react in time to the deterioration of their condition and seek medical attention before their health deteriorates significantly.
Moreover, doctors should explain to people the importance of symptoms that may indicate the progression of CHF. Therefore, they should be informed about the dangers of weight gain and the importance of fluid control. In addition, to reduce re-hospitalization of patients, doctors can keep in touch with them remotely (Groenewegen et al., 2020). Doctors can use phone apps to communicate with patients and answer vital questions. As a result, this will allow patients to receive ongoing support from specialists and reduce the number of repeated hospitalizations.
The treatment regimens need to be simplified so patients can follow them outside hospitals. This will enable people to follow their doctors’ recommendations at home and, at the same time, understand the benefits they bring to their health (Wolters et al., 2018). Additionally, doctors must constantly check and record the medications they prescribe to patients to avoid discrepancies between symptoms and the medications they prescribe. Furthermore, they should encourage the use of medication organizers and reminder systems to improve medication adherence (Wolters et al., 2018). Therefore, if people understand the treatment regimens and can follow them, the risk of readmission will be minimized.
Another way to reduce the risk of readmission is to visit patients with CHF. Effective communication between inpatient and outpatient teams is important to ensure continuity of care. Staff members can periodically visit patients at home and provide advice on how to follow doctors’ recommendations (Wolters et al., 2018). This will help establish a trusting relationship between patients and doctors, allowing them to respond quickly and effectively to changes in patient’s health.
Furthermore, patients need to undergo periodic check-ups in the hospital after discharge to measure the main indicators of heart function with the help of medical devices. Telemedicine should be used in remote areas where people cannot constantly contact doctors (Wolters et al., 2018). Accordingly, it is essential to implement telemedicine options for remote monitoring and virtual consultations. Therefore, patients with CHF living in rural areas can be monitored for heart health with the help of preventive measures.
Meanwhile, healthcare providers, heart disease specialists, and other professionals such as pharmacists and surgeons should collaborate to choose the most appropriate treatment option. This will allow for the creation of multidisciplinary teams to treat both cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities. In this way, people with CHF will be able to get complete information about their health status and reduce the frequency of hospitalization (Wolters et al., 2018). Furthermore, home health care is especially suitable for patients at high risk of hospitalization. Qualified professionals can monitor patients’ health status, teach them self-care, and raise concerns when necessary (Groenewegen et al., 2020). These methods of reducing readmissions in patients with CHF are particularly suitable for older patients and those with disabilities.
Conclusion
In summary, reducing the readmission rate of patients with CHF requires a multifaceted approach. This approach would address the unique challenges of this high-risk group by focusing on patient education, medication management, seamless transition to care, and early observation. Furthermore, through home health services and enhanced care planning, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the rate of readmissions for patients with congestive heart failure. By incorporating evidence-based practice interventions, health systems can achieve better patient results, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall delivery of care to this high-risk population.
References
Groenewegen, A., Rutten, F. H., Mosterd, A., & Hoes, A. W. (2020). Epidemiology of heart failure. European Journal of Heart Failure, 22(8), 1342-1356. Web.
Jahmunah, V., Ng, E. Y. K., San, T. R., & Acharya, U. R. (2021). Automated detection of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure using GaborCNN model with ECG signals. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 134, 1-10. Web.
Wolters, F. J., Segufa, R. A., Darweesh, S. K., Bos, D., Ikram, M. A., Sabayan, B., & Sedaghat, S. (2018). Coronary heart disease, heart failure, and the risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 14(11), 1493-1504. Web.