Innovating. Again.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Boston (VNAB) has long been a leader in creating new programs designed to keep members of the community independent and at home… while improving clinical outcomes and sharply reducing medical costs.  In the coming months, we’re launching another innovative initiative designed to serve patients with heart failure and, in a second phase, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

According to VNAB’s Joan Roth:

• It is estimated that 5 million in the US have heart failure (HF) with approximately 550,000 new cases diagnosed per year
• HF accounts for 875,000 hospitalization each year
• It is the most common hospital admission diagnosis in the 65 and over population
• There is more Medicare spending for the diagnosis and treatment of HF than any other diagnosis
• The mortality rate is 33% at one year, 50% at five

Utilizing the Heart Failure Society of America Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guidelines and the American College of Cardiology Heart Association Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults, the VNAB is adopting specific guidelines for nurses and therapists around assessment, treatment, transition planning and rehabilitation.  Joan and her team have created specific outcomes goals to track progress and to inform future program planning.  Such goals pertain to reducing hospital readmissions, improving patient ambulation, improving medication management and others.

Internal training begins soon and external communication shortly thereafter.

More to come on our COPD program…