Why are Dedicated CHF Clinics so Important?
Heart failure (HF), often called congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body. Heart failure is caused by many conditions that damage or weaken your heart. It is a common and chronic form of heart disease and requires a multidisciplinary management approach. Dedicated CHF clinics, through affiliated hospitals, provide multidisciplinary health care for patients with heart failure. A dedicated CHF clinic is designed to reduce the rate of re-admissions and to improve the quality of life of heart failure patients.
Patients are counseled and managed by a team of specialists including:
- Physicians
- Clinical nurse coordinators
- Dieticians
- Specialists from pharmacy
- Cardiac rehabilitation team members
- Social workers
A dedicated CHF clinic provides comprehensive education to the patient and their caregivers about the identification of common symptoms, dietary modifications, medication, and adherence to treatment.