Low-technology heart failure care in home health: improving patient outcomes

Abstract

This article reports a study that pilot tested the effectiveness of a low-technology structured intervention to standardize home healthcare management of patients with heart failure (HF) within a home health agency (HHA). The purpose of this study was to use low-technology equipment to improve care for patients with HF enrolled in a home health agency. The 9-week intervention was targeted toward the home health nurses and included telephone and home visits, a teaching tool, digital scales, and a log/notebook filled out by the patients in the study. Patient outcomes included decreased rehospitalization, decreased symptoms of HF, and increased quality of life.