Comprehensive heart failure care in the National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw

The National Institute of Cardiology (Narodowy Instytut Kardiologii) is the main centre for cardiology in Poland,¹ and one of six national heart transplant centres. When a person with symptoms of heart failure is admitted to the Institute, they are seen by a cardiologist, who has access to the full range of diagnostic tests.² Heart failure care is provided by a multidisciplinary team, which may include specialists in cardiac rehabilitation and psychologists, to create appropriate, person-centred treatment plans.

Standardised discharge planning with scheduled follow-up appointments is commonplace to support the seamless transition of care and reduce the risk of readmission. Cardiologists can generate annual prescriptions for people with heart failure to reduce the number of Institute visits. If symptoms worsen, the person can arrange a teleconference with a cardiologist, who can then send an updated prescription via an online system directly to the person, if necessary. The Institute is a renowned pioneer in the field of telemedicine, with home-monitoring devices offered to people with heart failure for self-management.

References

1. Narodowy Instytut Kardiologii. About the Institute. Available from: https://www.ikard.pl/about-the-institute-280.html [Accessed 14/09/2020]
2. Leszek P. 2020. Interview with Stephanie Whelan Sara C Marques and Ed Harding at The Health Policy Partnership (Secretariat for Heart Failure Policy Network) [Videoconference]. 09/09/2020