Heart Failure

Nationally recognized indicators of quality have been established for the diagnosis of Heart Failure.
These quality indicators are being utilized by The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), and the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) for public reporting efforts.

Discharge Instructions
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.

LVF (Left-Ventricular Failure) assessment
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.

ACE Inhibitor for Decreased LVF (Left-Ventricular Failure): ACE Inhibitors, a class of drugs used in the treatment of heart disease to help keep blood vessels dilated (open) to improve blood flow, are used to help heart attack patients who have problems with the heart pumping enough blood to the body. This measure reports what percent of heart attack patients were prescribed medicines to improve the heart's ability to pump blood. 

Smoking Cessation Counseling (Heart Failure Patients): This measure reports what percent of adult heart attack patients are provided advice and/or counseling to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs and blood vessels and makes existing heart disease worse.