Resources to support hospital care and discharge planning

The Heart Failure Association (working group) of the Spanish Society of Cardiology developed a short checklist and infographic for healthcare professionals involved in heart failure care.^{1 2} These resources cover a typically high-risk period in the patient care journey, up to 30 days after hospital discharge. They outline crucial care elements to reduce the risk of hospital readmission, including:

• guideline-based hospital care and treatment
• requirements for safe discharge, including stable heart failure, patient education and empowerment, and a detailed care plan
• follow-up with a primary care physician within seven days and a heart failure specialist within two weeks of discharge
• nurse-led support in community settings
• confirmation of stable heart failure and review of the care plan at 30 days post-discharge.^{1 2}

References

1. Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Transición del paciente hospitalizado con insuficiencia cardiaca. Available from: https://secardiologia.es/images/secciones/insuficiencia/ENT_INFOGRAFIA.pdf [Accessed 12/08/20]
2. Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Decálogo sobre la transición del paciente hospitalizado con insuficiencia cardíaca. Available from: https://secardiologia.es/images/secciones/insuficiencia/ENT_DECALOGO_TRANSICION.pdf [Accessed 12/08/20]