Heart failure update - improving management and reducing readmissions

The aim of this session is to discuss key heart failure updates in diagnosis, treatment and reductions in hospital admissions. We will also discuss the Safer Care Victoria (SCV) Heart Failure Collaborative, key interventions being implemented at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and how we can improve our communication with our GP colleagues.

Every year, over 100,000 Australians suffer from heart failure. Between 50 and 75 per cent of these people will die within 5 years of diagnosis, and quality of life is diminished by disability and frequent admissions to hospital. Some of these admissions to hospital are potentially preventable. The Heart Failure Collaborative is being delivered in parallel with the Cardiovascular Ambassador project in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to reduce heart failure admissions.

RMH is part of this initiative and is introducing several interventions to try to reduce all cause and heart failure readmissions , and it is key to engage and work with our primary care colleagues, to implement these. This event aims to discuss heart failure and key treatment strategies, and to discuss our interventions and how primary care and RMH can work better together, to improve care for our heart failure patients.

To help guide the session's discussion, please complete the pre-event survey via the link in your registration confirmation email.

Speakers

Professor Leeanne Grigg is head of the cardiology service and head of the adult congenital cardiac service at RMH. She is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and is involved in teaching and research, with multiple publications and awards.

A/Prof James Wong is director of the echocardiology laboratory and a heart failure specialist at RMH. He is also a consultant cardiologist at John Fawkner Hospital and Melbourne Private Hospital. He has a PhD in vascular biology and has multiple publications and awards.

Dr Shareen Jaijee is a heart failure and advanced cardiac imaging specialist at RMH and Heart of Melbourne, Glen Waverly. She has a PhD in cardiac MRI and pulmonary hypertension, a master of medical leadership and is an accredited lifestyle medicine physician. 

Jessica Borcich and Joanna Young are heart failure consultant nurses at RMH.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• describe key heart failure classifications and recent management updates
• recognise signs to look for to help reduce heart failure readmissions
• explain interventions being implemented by RMH to reduce readmissions
• discuss strategies for primary care and RMH to work better together to improve care for heart failure patients.