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Media Inquiries: 434-924-5679 U.VA. EMERGENCY MEDICINE DEPARTMENT ADOPTS NEW APPROACH FOR TREATING CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE |
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The University of Virginia Health System Department of Emergency Medicine has established a new procedure for diagnosing, treating and conducting social work screenings for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The Emergency Department Congestive Heart Failure project utilizes a three-pronged approach that incorporates standardized diagnostic and aggressive treatment guidelines, patient and family education and social needs assessments that focus on the patient’s ability to manage the activities of daily life. Through this approach, physicians hope to reduce hospital admissions rates and promote prevention strategies for CHF. CHF is a heart disease condition that involves loss of pumping ability by the heart. It is generally accompanied by fluid accumulation in body tissues, especially the lungs. It affects about five million Americans every year and is eventually fatal. Hundreds of CHF patients are treated in U.Va. Health System’s emergency medicine department each year. “Because of the chronic nature of the disease, patients tend to seek emergency care repeatedly as the disease progresses over the course of years,” said Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghami, assistant professor of emergency medicine and Chest Pain Center director at U.Va. Health System. “Our congestive heart failure patients tend to be elderly with many special needs and issues affecting their long-term care. We hope that our early intervention will make a positive impact on each acute episode as well as their overall quality of life once a patient is released from the hospital.” The emergency medicine department launched the CHF project in collaboration with U.Va. Health System’s Heart and Vascular Center and the Office of Performance Improvement.The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation has provided funding for this project for the 2003 calendar year. August 15, 2003 |