Using video education to improve outcomes in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart Failure (HF) guidelines recommend HF self-care education. An optimal method of educating HF patients does not currently exist. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of supplementing usual HF education with video education and evaluate patients' satisfaction with video education. METHODS: A mixed methods design was used. A convenience sample of 70 patients was recruited from an academic medical center. Participants completed the Atlanta Heart Failure Knowledge Test and the Self-care of Heart Failure Index before and after receiving video education, to measure HF knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care respectively. Video usage and satisfaction with video education data were collected. All-cause 30-day readmissions data were compared to a historical group. RESULTS: HF knowledge and self-care maintenance scores increased significantly. Self-efficacy, self-care management and all-cause 30-day readmissions did not significantly improve. Most HF patients were highly satisfied. CONCLUSION: Supplementing usual HF education with VE was associated with improved HF knowledge and self-care maintenance.

Improving Heart Failure Readmission Costs and Outcomes With a Hospital-to-Home Readmission Intervention Program.

A retrospective cohort study was performed of the Hospital-to-Home (H2H) program, a rapid clinic follow-up program for patients with recent heart failure (HF) admissions at the University of Virginia Health System. There were 6761 hospitalizations among 4685 patients (age 67.5 ± 14.2 years, 43.9% female), and 759 had H2H follow-up. Thirty day mortality after the initial HF hospitalization was lower in H2H patients (1.84% vs 3.13%; P = .049), and this difference remained significant after adjustment in a multivariable logistic regression model (odds ratio = 0.56 [95% CI = 0.31-099]; P = .046). There also was a 24% reduction in readmission days within the first 30 days after the index admission ( P < .0001), and readmission cost savings were found to be greater than the costs of staffing the H2H clinic. In summary, the H2H program is cost-effective, with significant improvements in survival, readmission days, and readmission costs over 30 days.

Effect of Grand-Aides Nurse Extenders on Readmissions and Emergency Department Visits in Medicare Patients With Heart Failure.

Numerous procedures have been tested to reduce hospital readmissions with varying success. The objective of this study was to evaluate all-cause readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits 30 days and 6 months after discharge with Grand-Aides (GAs): nurse extenders making frequent home visits under video direction by a nurse supervisor. Medicare patients with primary diagnosis of heart failure at the University of Virginia discharged January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2015 were included. A GA visited the patient's home within 24 to 48 hours with supervisor on video for medication reconciliation. Every visit, a GA completed a questionnaire for a supervisor who then had brief video conversation with the patient, reinforced adherence with medical regimen and danger signs, making 3 visits in the first week, 2 visits each in weeks 2 and 3, 1 visit in week 4, then a monthly visit supplemented by telephone. Outcomes were recorded for 108 GA and 854 controls. Statistical adjustment was performed through inverse probability of treatment weighting, with the distribution of covariates resembling a propensity score-matched cohort. Patients with GA had 2.8% 30-day all-cause readmissions versus 15.8% controls-82% reduction-(adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.17; p = 0.0060); 6-month all-cause readmissions 13.0% versus 44.7% (aOR = 0.19; p <0.0001); ED 30-days 2.8% versus 45.1% (aOR = 0.03; p <0.0001); ED 6-months 12.0% versus 51.5% (aOR = 0.09; p <0.0001); and 6-month mortality 6.5% versus 8.8% (aOR = 0.73; p = 0.4698). At 30 days, 92% had "substantial medication adherence." Savings per $562,097, 7× return on investment. In conclusion, the GA approach to population health compares favorably in outcomes and expense 30 days and 6 months after discharge.