Title : Keeping heart failure patients in the “loop”: Creating a sustainable program
Abstract:
Triggers for the Project : The CDC (2017a) reported between 16.9 and 18.9 hospitalizations per 1,000 persons between 2015 and 2017 within the chosen region. When looking at specific heart failure (HF) statistics of the chosen hospital, the organization had around 114.1 HF discharges a month, with 19.31 readmissions a month. Problem/Goal Statement : The purpose of this project is to increase engagement of the GetWell Loop (GWL) allowing HF patients to have confidence that their decision-making is correct for their overall health. Through increasing engagement in the GWL, patients learn and practice self-care measures which play a vital role in controlling their health.
Actions Taken: Before the project start date, the navigator was given in-depth GWL training and all team members were informed of the project via email. During the implementation phase, the navigator manually enrolled qualifying patients into GWL and assisted patients to activate within the system. The navigator had daily face-to-face meetings with the patients and patients were followed for a total of thirty days.
Measurable Outcomes: Of the eight participants invited to join GWL, five chose to activate with a 41% engagement rate after the thirty days of activation. These results were compared to the first month of data of the pilot study on a different cardiac unit. In September 2020, 15 participants were invited to join GWL, five chose to activate with 14% engagement after the thirty days of activation. Patients gave verbal feedback on the significance of engaging with GWL to enhance their self-care skills.
Conclusions and Recommendations for Practice: There is evidence for increased engagement within GWL and continuing to use a navigator is vital to promote increased engagement. Daily reminders to use GWL is one way to remind patients to improve selfcare. Encouraging other staff to become educated and empowered to be navigators would allow for an organizational-wide approach to program growth. This project shows that to increase self-care, engaging with patients is necessary. Final considerations include using GWL in the outpatient clinic areas and continuing to brainstorm ways to engage patients, as there is a remaining 59% not engaging.
References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017a). County profile, Forsyth, NC. https://nccd.cdc.gov/DHDSPAtlas/detailedpdfreport.aspx?areaIds=37067&themeId=15&filterIds=1, 5,3,6,7&filterOptions=1,1,1,1,1#report
