Title: Testing the feasibility of an outpatient heart failure intravenous diuretic clinic

Biography:

Abstract

Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic disease that is known to be an expensive diagnosis due to the associated healthcare cost related to management.  As the incidence of HF continues to increase in our society it is imperative that current interventions are improved to help improve the management. The purpose of this retrospective chart review will be to test the feasibility of an outpatient intravenous diuretic clinic at a community hospital. The study will evaluate patients admitted for HF that would have been idealistic for an outpatient intravenous diuretic clinic based on a specified inclusion criterion. The studied included 100 charts that were reviewed of which the results indicate that 41% of the patients would qualify for an outpatient diuretic clinic. Inclusion criterion includes length of stay of equal to less than three days, no significant acute kidney injury, and disposition to home. When compared to the average cost of HF management the chart review indicates that avoided hospitalizations could result in a saving of over $485,440.  The results of this chart review indicate that an outpatient diuretic clinic is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective intervention.