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Heart Failure Quality Measures
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Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure or CHF, occurs when the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood through the body. The heart keeps pumping, but not as efficiently as a healthy heart. Heart failure interferes with the kidneys’ ability to remove excess waste from the body. The extra fluid causes the ankles and legs to swell. Fluid can also collect in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Learn more about heart failure.

There are proven standards of care that improve the quality of life for people with heart failure. Those standards are listed in the first column of the table below. Click on each term to learn what it means. The next columns show how well Memorial University Medical Center met those standards of care for people with heart failure.

A higher score is better.

  2006
Total
2007
Total
2008
Total
2009
Total
2010
Total
2011
Jan. - Sept.
Quality Measure (Click on each term to learn more)
LVF Assessment 94.73% 97.54% 97.05% 96.62% 97.54% 98.17%
DC Instructions 84.78% 81.89% 82.17% 86.81% 93.83% 96.92%
ACEI for LVSD 88.63% 91.18% 95.92% 96.20% 86.41% 91.67%
Smoking Cessation 87.86% 98.95% 96.10% 100% 100% 100%

Memorial Health Vs. National Average

The graphs below show how Memorial Health compares to other hospitals nationwide. The national average is pulled from all hospitals submitting data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during a specific time frame. The numbers below represent 2010 data. Click on the blue tabs to see the average for each category. A higher number is better.

  • LVF Assessment
  • Discharge Instructions
  • ACEI for LVSD
  • Smoking Cessation

LVF Assessment – Left Ventricular Systolic Function Assessment

Quality Measure Percentage of patients who had the left side of their heart assessed during their hospital stay at Memorial University Medical Center.
Why is this important? The left side of the heart is where the main pumping chamber is located. By assessing it, doctors can tell how well it is pumping and what type of treatment is needed.

 


Discharge Instructions

Quality Measure Percentage of heart failure patients who were taught how to manage their condition when they were discharged from Memorial University Medical Center.
Why is this important? Congestive heart failure does not go away. It must be managed every day with diet, exercise, medication, and other methods. Patients receive thorough discharge instructions to help them control heart failure and prevent further organ damage. The instructions include information about diet, exercise, weight monitoring, follow-up appointments, medications, and signs and symptoms that should be reported to a doctor.

 


ACEI for LVSD – ACE Inhibitor for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

Quality Measure Percentage of people with left ventricular systolic dysfunction who were prescribed ACE inhibitors when they were discharged from Memorial University Medical Center.
Why is this important? Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are drugs that are especially helpful for people with damage on the left side of their heart (left ventricular systolic dysfunction). ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure.

 


Smoking Cessation

Quality Measure Percentage of heart failure patients who received information to help them stop smoking before they were discharged from Memorial University Medical Center.
Why is this important? Patients who successfully quit smoking may reduce their risk of having a heart attack.

 

 

 

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Memorial University Medical Center hospital campus: 4700 Waters Avenue, Savannah, GA 31404 - 912-350-8000