Transitioning from acute to community care: The value of a Heart Failure Support & Education Group meeting

Abstract

Background Heart failure patients and their caregivers/support network are often provided significant amounts of information, lifestyle modification recommendations, new medications, etc. while acutely hospitalized for heart failure. There is a lack of outpatient support once patients are discharge. A heart failure support and education group is effective at engaging patients and families throughout the care continuum. There are no formal networking/socializing opportunities for patients/caregivers living with chronic heart failure, facilitating these bonding and relationship building networks improves the experience of the heart failure patient and caregivers. Methods A monthly Heart Failure Support & Education Group meeting has started in Fall 2014 and has continued meeting every month of the year (with the exception of every December). The monthly meeting is structured for an hour with time provided at the end for informal conversation/networking among participants. The hour meeting contains a formal presentation from heart failure experts or the facilitators (i.e. Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Cardiac Rehab Specialists, Palliative Care Providers, nutritionist, etc.). The other portion of the meeting is for formal/guided discussion on patient/caregiver problems, barriers, frustrations, etc. A support group evaluation occurred over early Summer 2017 with the highest rate of returned surveys among all Heart & Vascular support groups and result analysis demonstrated patient engagement and value in attending the monthly meetings with feedback that patients/caregivers wanted to actively continue attendance and had minor recommendations for modifications. Conclusions Implementing and sustaining an ambulatory/outpatient support and education group for patients and caregivers living with heart failure is an effective way to connect patient's leaving the acute care setting and transitioning into the community with continued support and resources. Members of the support and education group are connected with heart failure experts monthly that enable them to achieve improved quality of life and improve compliance with the plan of care. Attendees demonstrate improved feelings of support, connection, and healthy quality of life after attending the support and education group. Results Between survey analysis and direct feedback from group members it has been demonstrated that our members have found attendance at the support and education group to be rewarding and improved their quality of life. They verbalized valuing the time to receive education as well as network with other patients/caregivers living with heart failure. The survey and feedback reinforce the value of having a heart failure support and education group and providing members with meaningful content. No direct analysis on heart failure readmissions has been conducted.