Care of Patient with Heart Failure - Assignment Example

Care of the person with heart failure” A Report Submitted Name Course Tutor Date: “Care of the person with heart failure” The model of care and the treatment setting primarily used for the care of patients with heart failure Heart failure is a severe condition and is sometimes equivalent to malignant disease. The equivalence is in terms of mortality rate and symptoms of burden. Patients affected by this condition may have generic palliative care needs such as communication, refractory multifaceted symptoms and decision-making issues and the need for family support (Jaarsma et al, 2009, p. 433). Heart failure is a vital healthcare problem often associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The affected individuals usually have a poor quality of life. This is despite being treated with modern evidence-based therapy. The condition is very common, but only a small number of patients receive the proper care required. Performance of health care systems varies and greatly determines the care of a patient. Primary care is a coordinated first contact care and is strongly associated with the health system functioning and improved health. Improvement of primary care has necessitated the introduction of models of care, which include emphasizing the core coordinating functions of primary care and improving quality and improved patient experience (AHRQ, 2010, p. 9). The World Health Organization also proposes quality care for such patients. The quality care provided will improve care quality for patients and their families (Jaarsma et al, 2009, p. 433). The treatment setting should always be supportive, and the approach of care should be holistic. The treatment setting for patients with heart failure should be in Patient-Centred Medical Homes or Accountable Care Organizations (AHRQ, 2010, p. 5). These are models of care, which help in the provision of opportunities to increase the effectiveness and extent of care coordination. The models of care for hospitals and primary care teams include a systematic approach. The approach includes the identification of people, at a higher risk of heart failure, assessment and investigation of people with suspected heart failure, provision and documentation of proper treatment and offering regular reviews to those patients with established heart failure (Bernard, Brody & Lohr, 2007, p. 11). The approach is often geared at providing quality care through the steps that are undertaken. The need to provide and improve care for patients with heart failure conditions is unquestionable. A day-to-day care for patients with the condition would be managed through the use of basic, primary palliative care services. The services are provided by nursing staff, attending physicians, social workers, and other professionals engaged with routine patient care (Weissman & Meier, 2011, p. 1). The holistic approach of palliative care addresses the spiritual and psychological aspects of the patient care. It also addresses the supports of informal carers and family during illness. The models and treatment chosen should always be patient-centred. Care models identified, and treatment administered should take into account the needs and preferences of the patient (NHS, 2010, p. 7). Patients in partnership with healthcare professionals should have the chance to make informed decisions about their treatment and care. How models of care and treatment settings are integrated and co-ordinated to make certain the continuity of quality care for the patient? Integration and coordination improve health outcomes; reduce hospitalizations, costs and readmissions. The two models of care and the treatment settings can work in collaboration. The models can provide direct coordination of services, and also provide incentives and infrastructure to facilitate collaboration across the many types of organizations and providers (AHRQ, 2010, p. 5). Successful models of care incorporate a face-to-face interaction between care providers and patients. This helps to create as well as maintain personal relationships. The models of care are responsible for collaborating with teams and professionals in the hospital setting in the stipulation of care to the patient. The partnership often includes times of care transitions (AHRQ, 2010, p. 11). The models should also connect with community resources as well as align the very resources. The integration and coordination ensure that required resources are available to accomplish the care activities. Integrated health care often starts with good primary care. It refers to the provision of comprehensive care services that are well coordinated with suitable communication among care providers (AHRQ, 2010, p. 12). This includes involved and informed patients leading to care that is cost effective and of high quality. At the heart of integrated health care delivery is a high performing primary care giver. This then serves as a medical home for patients. True integration requires a cohesive medical neighbourhood envisioned as a product of Accountable Care Organizations. There is no specific model that is said to fit an organization wholly. Thus, palliative care delivery has to be integrated individually into such specific care settings as medical homes, hospitals, homecare and assisted living. Introduction and sustaining of care services should be tailored to the needs of patient, care providers, specific care setting and the community as a whole (National Consensus Project, 2009, p. 20). Several models have contributed to the quality care for families and patients. The models are available beside the mentioned ones above. The models include an array of disciplines that are in collaboration to provide quality care. The models include hospice care, outpatient palliative care programs, palliative care programs and community palliative care programs. Palliative care models can also be integrated with the identified models to ensure quality care for patients with heart failure. The first model is that of heart failure specialist care that is aligned with palliative care consultancy. In this, the heart failure specialist as a means for primary care (Jaarsma et al, 2009, p. 440) cares for the patient. Heart failure nurses are specifically trained in advanced communication skills and palliative care. This ensures that support for patients as well as their families is coordinated with other healthcare professionals. Another model is that of heart failure-oriented palliative care services. This is where palliative care services take responsibility for the care of the patients and families Jaarsma et al, 2009, p. 441). The heart failure specialists serve as consultants to tackle issues relating to heart failure treatment. The care services can be provided to patients as community-based support programmes or as independent inpatient hospice care centres. Coordination of treatment is necessary to help in the diminution of the risk of care fragmentation. It also helps reduce potential conflicts that can occur between agencies and health care professionals. What the literature review recommends for the future, for the care of these patients? Coordination of care primary care settings and hospitals needs to be improved. A designated healthcare professional should be identified to coordinate as well as liaise between heart failure specialists, palliative care and other services (Jaarsma et al, 2009, p. 438). Coordination and integration of models of care and treatment settings is necessary as it provides a chance for patients to be offered quality care. The treatment of patients with heart failure should be patient-centred, that is it should be based on the wants and preferences of the patient. The care should also be incorporated into the principles of family-centred care. Palliative care should be adopted by health care services since they support and also promote the continuity of care and treatment provided to heart failure patients. Designing the health care systems should be in such a way that avoids fragmentation and disorganization (Department of Health and Human Services, 2011, p. 6). Fragmentation often leaves clinicians and patients dissatisfied and could possibly add to the cost of care. Care models and treatment settings should be designed to promote coordination of care as well as quality care for all individuals. What governments and health services can do to improve the delivery of service to these patients? Every hospital should develop a systematic approach that ensures that patients at high risk for unmet care needs are identified as well as served in a timely manner (Weissman & Meier, 2011, p. 1). Hospitals should ensure that they collaborate with other models of care to ensure that they get the required resources suitable for the provision of care. Hospitals and health care models should work to increase awareness of the need for specialized care for patients with heart failure. Hospitals should ensure that specialty-level care services are available especially for those needs that are unmet (Weissman & Meier, 2011, p. 1). The government should promote the development as well as enhance the availability of heart-failure-oriented care services for its citizens. The government should also improve the quality and accessibility of care for those with heart failure. The government should ensure that the issue of inflexibility in existing funding streams is addressed. This means that resources will be easily moved across programs. The result will be the ability of health services to respond to needs and changes within the system (Humphrey & Wakerman, p. 8). Heart failures will then be addressed as promptly as possible because of the presence of resources. The government should try to make quality care more affordable for patients and families by developing and also spreading new health care delivery models. References List AHRQ. 2010. The Roles of Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organizations in Coordinating Patient Care, AHRQ Publication No. 11-M005-EF. Bernard, S, Brody, E & Lohr, K. 2007. Healthcare delivery models for heart failure. Retrieved from, http://www.health.org.uk/public/cms/75/76/313/537/Healthcare delivery models for heart failure.pdf. Real Name=CZfsdn.pdf. Department of Health and Human Services. 2011. National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care. Retrieved from, http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/reports/nationalqualitystrategy032011.pdf. Humphrey, J & Wakerman, J. Primary health care in rural and remote Australia: Achieving equity of access and outcomes through national reform. Retrieved from, http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/content/16f7a93d8f578db4ca257 4d7001830e9/$file/primary%20health%20care%20in%20rural%20and%20remote%20au stralia%20- %20achieving%20equity%20of%20access%20and%20outcomes%20through%20nationa l%20reform%20%28j%20humph.pdf. National Consensus Project. 2009. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, Second Edition. Retrieved from, http://www.nationalconsensusproject.org/guideline.pdf NHS. 2010. Chronic heart failure: Management of chronic heart failure in adults in primary and secondary care. Retrieved from, http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13099/50517/50517.pdf Weissman, D & Meier, D. 2011. Identifying Patients in Need of a Palliative Care Assessment in the Hospital Setting: A Consensus Report from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. Journal of Palliative Medicine Volume 14, Number 1, 2011. Read More