{
  "abstract": "Aim Hospitalisation for heart failure (HF) carries a high risk of readmission and adverse patient outcomes. We noticed a higher rate of readmissions for HF patients in a tertiary cardiac centre in Doha, Qatar. This study is focused on using a multidisciplinary and quality improvement approach to reduce the HF patients’ 30-day readmission rate to the high dependency unit C in Heart Hospital, Doha, Qatar, by 10% by December 2020 and 20% by December 2021.Methods In collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, we worked on this initiative as a multidisciplinary team and tested several changes. A model for improvement framework was used and rapid, weekly, plan-do-study-act cycles were applied to test changes. Multiple measures were implemented serially, which included follow-up telephone consultations by a HF clinical nurse specialist 1 week after hospital discharge, early follow-up in a dedicated HF clinic (within 2 weeks of discharge), the availability of medical guidance over the telephone, comprehensive health coaching and education, patient functional activity engagement and cardiac depression screenings.Results The readmission rate reduced from 25.5% in 2019 to 5.6% in 2021 (p<0.001). The results achieved have been sustained over time, with readmission rates recorded at 7.87% to date. The study demonstrated a decrease in 30-day readmission rates for HF patients after implementing a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative.Conclusions Reducing readmission rates underscores the importance of comprehensive patient education, tailored care plans, consistent follow-up and integrated team-based care in managing HF patients. The success of this initiative highlights the potential of multidisciplinary strategies in improving patient outcomes in chronic conditions like HF.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Sharin Koshy Varghese"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Tina Francis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Jassim Zaheen Shah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Quality Management, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Dartford, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Poonam Gupta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Elavarasi Velusamy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Blessy Susan Varghese"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Sathiya Priya Selvaraj"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Lija Koshy Renyn"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Nursing, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Indirani Savarimuthu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Menandro Mahinay"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Maha Kassim Al-Amri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Afnan Abdul Azeem Arnoos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Parthasarathi Thangaraj"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Sasikala Natarajan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Amr Mohamed Hamed Badr"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Cardiology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Ashfaq Patel"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Multidisciplinary initiative to reduce 30-day readmissions in heart failure: a quality improvement perspective",
  "uid": "fc63a139-8af7-578a-92b6-0776029ce18b"
}