Broadening Heart Failure Care Beyond Cardiology: Challenges and Successes Within the Landscape of Multidisciplinary Heart Failure Care.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health concern that impairs the quality of life and is associated with significant mortality. As the prevalence of heart failure increases, multidisciplinary care is essential to provide comprehensive care to individuals. The challenges of implementing an effective multidisciplinary care team can be daunting. Effective multidisciplinary care begins at the initial diagnosis of heart failure. The transition of care from the inpatient to the outpatient setting is critically important. The use of home visits, case management, and multidisciplinary clinics has been shown to decrease mortality and heart failure hospitalizations, and major society guidelines endorse multidisciplinary care for heart failure patients. Expanding heart failure care beyond cardiology entails incorporating primary care, advanced practice providers, and other disciplines. Patient education and self-management are fundamental to multidisciplinary care, as is a holistic approach to effectively address comorbid conditions. Ongoing challenges include navigating social disparities within heart failure care and limiting the economic burden of the disease.