Heart Failure – long-term management of heart failure patients

Heart Failure
Cardiobase offers several Heart Failure modules to aid in the long-term management of heart failure patients.

What is heart failure?
Heart Failure, often referred to as congestive heart failure, is seen in patients whose heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain an adequate blood flow. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, excessive tiredness and leg swelling. Common causes include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease. Heart failure is a common, costly, debilitating and potentially fatal condition with treatment depending on the severity of the symptoms. Patients are encouraged to give up smoking and improve physical exercise and are monitored regularly with titration of their medications, which can include diuretics, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers. Sometimes a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator may be indicated.

Cardiobase’s Role
The heart failure module will record the patients baseline status and allow for recording of changes in state such as weight, response to treatment and so on at each clinic. Medications, past and present are shown and can be easily updated.
Cardiobase’s heart failure modules can:

  • Store details of the initial and all subsequent assessments
  • Record quality of life scoring
  • Record heart failure clinic attendances with any key issues noted
  • Record each patient’s individualised management programme
  • Show medications changes
  • Alert staff of non-attendance by patients so that they can be followed up promptly
  • Tailored reports can be configured for general reporting and audit purposes
  • Can assist with national audit requirements such as NICOR data submissions in the UK
  • Details of involvement in clinical trials