Heart failure collaborative care: an integrated partnership to manage quality and outcomes.

Abstract

Heart failure is a prevalent chronic condition with increasingly high rates of mortality and morbidity, frequent exacerbations, and multiple hospitalizations. The financial impact of this disease is staggering, with more than $10 billion spent annually. This article describes a heart failure service that provides five essential components of integrated care management for heart failure patients across the continuum. The program may serve as a model to others in developing programs to meet the unique needs of heart failure patients and patients with chronic diseases.