Abstract P211: Effect of Quality Improvement Discharge Tool in Heart Failure

Background: Approximately 33% to 40% of older adults with heart failure are re-hospitalized within three months of discharge. The 6 month readmission rate is as high as 50%. Studies have shown that upward titration of ACE I, ARB and beta-blockers after discharge resulted in reduced hospital re-admission rates, improved functional capacity and quality of life. In our quality improvement project two groups of patients admitted with primary diagnoses of CHF were studied. A discharge checklist was developed for the second group and its effect on dose titration and readmissions was studied. Methods: For the first group, all patients readmitted within 3 months for CHF from April 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 were identified. The primary end point was the difference in dosage of ACE I/ARB and B- blockers between discharge and readmission. For the second group a CHF discharge checklist was used randomly in patients admitted with primary diagnoses of CHF from August 2008 to October 2009. Checklist included documentation regarding dose titration, relevant counselling, education and follow up instructions. Results: The first group had 127 readmissions for CHF within 3 months of discharge. The second had 48 patients in which CHF discharge checklist was used. The characteristics of two populations is shown in the Table. Second group readmissions for CHF were decreased after using the checklist from 68% (15/22) to 36% (8/22, p = 0.3). Compared to prior to using the checklist, the total number of readmissions within 6 months of discharge were reduced significantly from 25 to 9 (p = 0.04). Up titration of diuretics in the hospital was associated with decreased readmissions (p=0.07, 4/14 vs 0/8). Conclusion: The use of CHF discharge checklist significantly improves dose titration of heart failure medications and decreases the total number of readmissions due to CHF. Furthermore among drug dose titration, up titration of diuretics tend to decrease CHF readmissions.