About Stevens
Quality Reports
Heart Failure —Third Quarter 2007 Results
Assessment of left ventricular function: Assessment of left ventricular function (LVF), or the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, is the standard of care for heart failure patients. A high score is better than a low score.
ACE Inhibitor at discharge. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medications have been shown to help lower blood pressure and prevent future heart problems. Eligible patients with the diagnosis of heart failure should have ACE inhibitors prescribed for them when they leave the hospital. A high score is better than a low score.
Smoking cessation advice: Giving advice about stopping smoking is important for heart failure patients who are smokers, or who have smoked within the past year. A high score is better than a low score. Improvement efforts are currently underway at Stevens to increase counseling for smoking cessation among eligible patients with heart failure.
Discharge Instructions: Comprehensive instructions for patients with a heart failure condition include information about: diet, level of activity, medications, signs of worsening symptoms, weight monitoring, and follow-up treatment. A high score is better than a low score. Improvement efforts are currently underway at Stevens to improve provision of comprehensive instructions for heart failure patients when they leave the hospital.
