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ImproveHF & SCA Prevention

Improving HF Care in Cardiology Clinics and Hospitals

In 2005, HealthSciences Institute designed a HF cardiology practice performance improvement protocol and tools in support of largest outpatient cardiology HF performance improvement to date. The program was funded by Medtronic. The study was aimed at improving adherence with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines for heart failure among nearly 200 US cardiology practices. Over 50,000 patients are involved in the study. HealthSciences Institute led performance improvement work sessions at Improve HF national events, in partnership with the ImproveHF Steering Committee, co-chaired by UCLA’s Dr. Gregg Fonorow and AHA president Dr. Clyde Yancy. In 2007, following the ImproveHF study, HealthSciences Institute developed a brief HF performance improvement protocol for use in the Medtronic-funded national Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Prevention program.  HealthSciences continues to facilitate national work sessions to support implementation of SCA improvement in US cardiology clinics and hospitals throughout the US. To date, over 1,000 cardiologists, nurses, advanced practice nurses and quality improvement leaders have participated in the  SCA Prevention Program.