Improving Value Through Heart Failure Care Coordination: The Allina Health Experience

Abstract

Reducing readmission following heart failure is emerging as a target of quality initiatives in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Readmission Reduction Program. In response to higher readmission rates than desired following heart failure (HF) hospitalization, Allina Health hospital's cardiovascular subspecialty care developed an HF nurse care coordinator program to reduce readmissions. The nurse HF care coordinator serves as the bridge to help manage care following hospital discharge and ensure adherence to protocols developed by the HF management program. This effort was initially developed and implemented at Mercy and Unity Hospital and was associated with a 4.3% reduction in HF readmissions. Subsequent expansion of the HF nurse care coordinator program to United and Abbott Northwestern Hospitals was associated similar reductions in HF readmissions. Concurrently, all-cause mortality at 6 months post-discharge was also significantly lower following implementation of the program (mortality pre-HF care coordinator program 12.6% vs. post-HF care coordinator program 18.8%, P = .047) in propensity matched analysis. The findings of this effort suggest the potential for care coordination programs to improve the care and outcomes of patients with HF.