"Hub and Satellite" Heart Failure Provider's Network Study

Background:

Congestive heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem. There is a pressing need to improve treatment of HF, but lifesaving therapies remain underused in clinical practice. The investigators proposed a novel, potentially cost-effective model of community-based, multidisciplinary, collaborative HF care - the "Hub and Satellite" Heart Failure Providers Network. Primary care providers trained in HF management would provide improved care to their clinic patients with HF in "satellite" clinics, supported by the Regional HF Center "hub".

Objectives:

• To establish and demonstrate the feasibility of the "Hub and Satellite" Heart Failure Providers Network
• To obtain data examining clinical effectiveness and barriers

Methods:

Volunteer community-based primary care providers underwent 3 days of HF management training at the regional HF center (Nashville), consisting of 21 hours of lectures, briefings, teaching sessions and case presentations. Multiple choice testing and a survey interview were completed at the beginning and end of training. Exclusive access was given to the services of a clinical pharmacist to titrate HF medications to clinical guideline-recommended doses.

Providers received updates on advances in HF management. A confidential feedback report on their performance was given to HF providers. Formative evaluation was performed through pre-educational and 4 subsequent telephone interviews with HF providers.

Decision Support System (DSS) data was used to identify patients with systolic HF (ejection fraction<40%) cared for by the HF providers; systolic HF patients in the same clinics cared for by non-HF trained providers were randomly selected as controls. Data on the care received over the one year period of follow-up was collected from DSS data and the computerized patient record system (CPRS).

Status:

One year of study follow-up has been completed. Primary data analysis is continuing. Work done to date has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a "Hub and Satellite" HF Providers network, including high provider satisfaction.

Inclusion criteria

Healthcare providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants) who practice in a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, and are willing to undergo Heart Failure Training

Exclusion criteria

Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Providers who are unable to attend the 3 day Heart Failure Training at the Regional Heart Failure Center.