Congestive Heart Failure

To improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse events, it is critical to detect quality issues in the healthcare system. One quality issue is when patients delay seeking treatment for worsening heart failure, which can lead to serious consequences such as increased mortality and heart failure-related adverse events. In this essay, I will address the following questions: What constitutes a quality issue in healthcare? How can one determine if there is a quality issue? What is the objective of improvement? Additionally, I will share my experiences working at Congestive Heart Failure clinic, where I have observed patients delay treatment due to insurance or immigration issues. The studies by Lin et al., 2021, and Evangelista et al., 2000, published …show more content…
These findings emphasize the significance of timely medical intervention for heart failure patients to prevent complications and improve outcomes. Moreover, the studies explored the factors contributing to delays in seeking medical treatment among heart failure patients. The researchers conducted interviews with heart failure patients to understand their experiences and reasons for delaying care. The studies revealed several factors such as lack of knowledge about heart failure symptoms, fear and denial, and perceived barriers to healthcare access that contributed to treatment-seeking delays. These findings highlight the need for interventions to reduce these delays and promote early medical intervention in heart failure patients. Besides these articles, and based on my experience in the healthcare industry, I have also seen patients hesitate to seek care at a congestive heart failure clinic because of insurance or immigration issues. For example, some patients do not have health insurance or have difficulty getting approval for procedures or treatments. These patients hesitate because they are worried about the financial …show more content…
In addition to education, healthcare providers can also work to improve insurance coverage and accessibility for those with congenital heart failure. This can be accomplished through policy advocacy, funding support, and making sure that those without proper documentation are not denied access. By setting SMART goals, healthcare organizations and clinicians can improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by addressing the issue of patients delaying treatment for their heart failure symptoms. The SMART goal for this quality challenge is as follows: Specific: Decrease the time it takes to get diagnosed and treated for heart failure. Measurable: Decrease the average time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and seeking medical care by 20%. Achievable: Educate people about the need to seek care early for signs and symptoms of heart failure and provide resources to help people get care as soon as possible. Relevant: Improving timely care for heart failure symptoms is crucial to prevent complications, reduce hospitalizations, and improve patient

Show More