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Heart Failure Care
Heart failure is a weakening of the heart’s pumping power. With heart failure, the body does not get enough oxygen and nutrients to meet its needs. The heart tries to pump more blood, but the muscle walls become weaker over time. Symptoms of heart failure may include shortness of breath from fluid in the lungs, swelling (such as in legs, ankles or abdomen), dizziness, fatigue, weakness, cold or clammy skin or a rapid or irregular heartbeat.



Heart failure patients who receive specific discharge instructions about their condition. This measure reports what percent of patients with heart failure are given information about their condition and care when they leave the hospital. Patient education about medicines, diet, activities, and signs to watch for is important in order to prevent further hospitalization. Heart failure patients who have had the function of the main pumping chamber of the heart (i.e., left ventricle) checked during their hospitalization. This measure reports what percent of patients with heart failure receive an in-depth evaluation of heart muscle function in order to get the right treatment for their heart failure. Heart failure patients who receive either a prescription for a medicine called an “ACE inhibitor” or a medicine called an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) when they are discharged from the hospital. This measure reports what percent of heart failure patients who have problems with the heart pumping enough blood to the body were prescribed medicines to improve the heart’s ability to pump blood. Heart failure patients who are given advice about stopping smoking while they are in the hospital. This measure reports what percent of adult heart failure patients are provided advice and/or counseling to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs and blood vessels and makes existing heart disease worse.