Content area
Full text
Heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and rehospitalizations account for a large proportion of healthcare expense in the United States. Guidelines suggest interprofessional team care can be effective in managing patients with HF and preventing readmissions. The primary objective of this systematic review was to examine the evidence for effectiveness of interprofessional care teams to reduce readmissions in patients with HF. Most of the studies showed reduction in readmission rates after implementation of interprofessional team intervention in HF care.
In care of patients with heart failure (HF), would use of interprofessional care teams result in fewer hospital readmissions compared to routine care? A great deal of research has been conducted on HF management and reduction of hospital readmissions. The primary objective of this systematic review is to present evidence on the effectiveness of interprofessional care on HF readmissions. Interprofessional care, including comprehensive discharge planning and changes in hospital care, was included in the literature review of current treatment.
Statement of the Problem
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), the total national healthcare expenditure of almost $3 trillion in 2014 has escalated over time. HF is a condition that encompasses a large proportion of this total health expenditure; in addition, a relatively large percentage of healthcare expenditure for HF is related to hospital admissions and readmissions (Ziaeian & Fonarow, 2016). In fact, 37% of Medicare spending covers inpatient care, and 18% of all hospital admissions are readmissions, especially within 30 days of discharge. This encompasses about $15 billion annually (Fingar & Washington, 2015). Addressing the issue of HF readmissions is a responsibility of healthcare professionals regardless of practice specialty. A systematic review of the existing evidence on use of interprofessional teams to reduce HF readmissions can refine care for involved patients at multiple levels. While ensuring improvement in health of patients with HF, reducing hospital readmissions correlates with decreased healthcare expenditure, which has been an ongoing cause of national consternation (Kripalani, Theobald, Anctil, & Vasilevskis, 2014).
Relevant Literature
With financial penalties for hospital readmissions instituted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), lower reimbursements accrue over time. This process has made hospitals and taxpayers the major stakeholders in improving Medicare payments (Boozary, Manchin, & Wicker, 2015; Vasilevskis et al., 2016). Medicare costs for readmissions...