Case study from Innovation: early diagnosis in community settings

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One-stop rapid-access services accelerate heart failure diagnosis

8 December, 2022

What is the aim?

General practitioners can refer people with suspected heart failure directly to the diagnostic service in community settings.1 2 Referrals are triaged with the help of natriuretic peptide (NP) testing, and people who have elevated NP levels receive further examination. They are assessed with an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, and reviewed by a specialist.

What has been achieved?

The rapid-access services were established during the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to long waiting lists and limited access to usual heart failure diagnostic services.1 2 They saved time, confirming heart failure diagnoses or ruling them out, as appropriate. For people with confirmed heart failure, the consultant developed a management plan and heart failure nurses adjusted medication and provided patient education.

References

  1. Rucarean D. Interview with Karolay Lorenty at The Health Policy Partnership [teleconference]. 03/08/22
  2. Donnelly E. 2022. Interview with Karolay Lorenty at The Health Policy Partnership [teleconference]. 03/08/22
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The Heart Failure Policy Network is an independent, multidisciplinary platform made possible with financial support from AstraZeneca and Roche Diagnostics. The content produced by the Network is not biased toward any specific treatment or therapy. All outputs are guided and endorsed by the Network’s members. All members provide their time for free. The Network is hosted by The Health Policy Partnership .