2022 Quality Summit ePosters (Non-CE) - Heart Failure Accreditation-7. Meeting the Gaps: A Quality Improvement Project to Educate and Empower Late-Stage Heart Failure Care

7. Meeting the Gaps: A Quality Improvement Project to Educate and Empower Late-Stage Heart Failure Care

Pdf Summary

Meeting the Gaps is a quality improvement project aimed at addressing the gaps in care for patients with advanced heart failure. The project focuses on embedding a palliative approach into the management of late-stage heart failure, as well as improving end-of-life communication and access to specialist palliative care. <br /><br />The project involved interviewing patients with end-stage heart failure to understand their healthcare journey. Themes were extracted from the interviews by a multidisciplinary team, and these themes informed the gaps in care for late-stage heart failure patients. <br /><br />As part of the project, two interactive tools were created. The patient tool provides information on the signs and symptoms of heart failure progression, as well as helpful questions and conversations to consider. The purpose of this tool is to empower patients and prepare them for active participation in discussions and decision-making with their healthcare team. <br /><br />The provider tool is divided into three stages: transition to late-stage heart failure, periodic assessments and/or exacerbations, and actively dying. It provides guidance on communication, symptom assessment and treatment, disease modification, and optimizing daily functioning. The tool also includes links to external resources. <br /><br />The project aims to improve the understanding of the patient experience in advanced heart failure, empower patients, and enable clinicians to deliver high-quality care for those with end-stage cardiac disease. The work is based on interviews with 16 stakeholders and 10 patient interviews. The challenges identified include access to primary care providers, system navigation, information sharing, and a lack of understanding. <br /><br />Overall, Meeting the Gaps is a comprehensive project that addresses the gaps in care for patients with advanced heart failure through education and empowerment of both patients and providers.

Keywords

Meeting the Gaps

advanced heart failure

palliative approach

end-of-life communication

patient interviews

interactive tools

patient tool

provider tool

high-quality care

education and empowerment