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Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major and growing public health problem, affecting 5.3 million people, mostly elderly, and is the underlying cause for 12 to 15 million office visits and 6.5 million hospital days each year. Because of inadequate treatment, discharge guidance, and follow-up, many patients with CHF are caught in a “revolving door” process that ultimately culminates in deterioration and rehospitalization.

 

High rehospitalization rates drive burgeoning costs and also provide a signal that current management approaches to CHF are less than optimal. Evidence-based treatment approaches offer opportunities to reduce mortality and rehospitalization rates for patients with CHF. 

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Getting Started: How to Improve

Learn about the Model for Improvement, forming the improvement team, setting aims, establishing measures, and selecting and testing changes. Go to How to Improve.