Over five million people in the United States have heart failure and more than 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It is one of the most common reasons people are hospitalized – especially those over 65. To read about the symptoms of heart failure, click here.
The NSMC Living Well With Heart Failure program offers inpatient and outpatient education support to help heart failure patients and their loved ones learn how to successfully manage their illness at home. Medication, lifestyle choices and continuous monitoring are some of the self-management skills patients will learn.
Read what our patients have to say about this program. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about the Living Well with Heart Failure program
Our Living Well With Heart Failure Program will help you:
- Understand your illness and feel supported emotionally
- Minimize your symptoms
- Decrease your frequency of hospitalization or emergency room visits
- Slow the progression of the disease
- Increase your exercise capacity
- Improve your quality of life
Team members you will work with during this program include your primary care physician, cardiologist, nurse practitioners, heart failure nurse coordinator, dietitian, case manager, and home care specialist (as needed).
Inpatient Program
As a patient with heart failure, you will be identified during your hospital stay to meet the heart failure nurse coordinator, who will begin to teach you the importance of managing your heart failure. Together with the heart failure nurse, you will plan the next steps in your heart failure care.
Outpatient Clinic
Through the Living Well With Heart Failure outpatient clinic, you will meet one-on-one with the nurse practitioner who will assist you in continuing to successfully manage your heart failure at home. The nurse practitioner will work closely with your primary care physician and cardiologist to optimize your heart failure care.
Self Management Skills
- Daily weight measurement to monitor fluid balance
- Recognition of heart failure symptoms
- Medication management
- Dietary guidelines
- Lifestyle and stress management skills
- Exercise
- Action plan for when and how to get medical care
Telephone Management Program
A team of nurses, social workers and health coaches also may call you to check your progress in managing your heart failure symptoms. They will work closely with you in the event that you require additional hospital or community resources.
Who Is Eligible?
Most often, patients are identified for the Living Well With Heart Failure program through a recent hospitalization. If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, you may refer yourself or have your doctor refer you to the Living Well With Heart Failure outpatient clinic. Even if you are receiving home care services, you may also be eligible for enrollment. Most insurance policies cover the cost of the program.
Living Well With Heart Failure patient comments:
"I was very impressed by the manner and skill of the nurse practitioner. She taught me in a way I could understand about my heart condition." - Dana F., Peabody
"I found the information very helpful, especially about medication adjustment and the importance of diet."
- Harry G., Swampscott
"I feel very encouraged about my health after participating in this program." - Loretta F., Lynn
"All of my patients have thoroughly enjoyed their experience. Each of them has gained critical insight into living healthier lives through careful weight, diet and medication management." -Michael Golden, M.D. Primary Care Physician
