What do I need to do if I have been diagnosed with Heart Failure?
One of the keys to living with heart failure is to know about the disease. The Mid America Heart Institute offers several different programs for people wanting to learn more about their problem. These programs are a support group, outpatient classes, and a disease management program.
The support group meets monthly at the Mid-America Heart Institute. This group is for the patient as well as the family, and is a free program. To find out about the support group, you can call Ask A Nurse at 800-932-6220
The heart failure disease management program is for patients that need more help to learn how to live with heart failure. This is for patients that have been admitted to the hospital multiple times with symptoms associated to heart failure. The Saint Luke's Hospital Heart Failure Team provides the service by bringing multiple cardiac care disciplines to provide the best possible care. It allows the patient to be an active member of their own health care team with the physicians, nurses and other clinical staff. The program begins by sending someone to your home to assist in going through your food and pointing out what is good and bad for you and your disease. You will also be set up on a telephone monitoring system, which you will need to call into every day and report your weight and any symptoms you are experiencing. Someone on the heart failure team will review the calls and changes will be made to your program if needed.
What does the heart failure disease management program include?

• Home care services
• A pharmacy consultation to go over medications
• A nutritional consultation to talk about a heart healthy diet
• Daily telephone monitoring
• Ongoing case management with someone from the heart failure team
• Coordination of services between your physician and the hospital
• Cardiac rehabilitation through the Health Enhancement Center
• Clinic follow-up resources to assure your are seen by a member of the heart failure team
• Outpatient education classes offered through the hospital.

How do I benefit by participating in the program?
You gain an improved quality of life because you will learn what causes your disease and what behaviors to avoid. You learn how optimal treatment can reverse the progression of heart failure. You will gain improved communication with your doctor and other clinical staff. You have an excellent pool of educational resources. You will help decrease the number of admissions to the hospital; last year, this program helped to decrease the number of re-admissions for heart failure by 91%. You benefit from home health care and the program enhances your ability to independently manage your condition and have the support you need on a daily basis to aid you in the disease management process.

What are the guidelines for the program?

• Weight yourself each day first thing in the morning.
• Call the CHF Tel-Assurance Patient Support Program every morning between 4:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• Eat a low sodium diet
• Know the symptoms of heart failure:

• Awakening from shortness of breath
• Short of breath with mild activity
• Unexplained swelling of legs/ankles
• Sudden weight gain of two or more pounds
• Unexplained fatigue and weakness

• Report symptoms to your physician
• Carry a list of your medication
• Take medication daily and phone your nurse practitioner if you are unable to take medications.
• Exercise daily if possible
• Participate in educational classes
• Keep appointments with your physician and nurse practitioner

Providers Associated with this clinic include:

Andrew C. Kao, M.D.
Stephanie L. Lawhorn, M.D.
Anthony Magalski, M.D.
Tracy L. Stevens, M.D.