Heart Failure Program
What is Heart Failure?
Heart Failure (CHF) occurs when the heart’s pumping ability is weak and the blood does not move effectively through the heart. Patients with CHF may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent coughing, fluid retention, and weight gain. This condition can be managed with diet and medication.
The CHF Program consists of a trained team including:
- Cardiologists
- Your primary care physician
- Heart failure care managers
Our Congestive Heart Failure Program:
Level I:
Self-Referral, No Co-Pay
The Heart Failure Class offers members the opportunity to:
- Learn how the heart works
- Master living with CHF
- Discover salt content in your diet
- Expand your knowledge on heart failure and related problems like depression
- Learn more about diet and exercise (what you should and should not do)
Level II:
Requires A Physician Referral
The goal of the Heart Failure Care Management Program is to help patients manage CHF using a self-care plan. This includes lab test monitoring, medication management, and creation of a personalized diet and exercise plan.
To enter this program, patients must have one of the following requirements:
- Cardiac ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped by the heart with one heart beat) of less than 40%
- Recent CHF-related ER visit/hospital admission
What You Can Do?
Follow “Best Practices” (high-quality treatment recommendations) to reduce your chances of getting worse:
- Participate in a
- Follow a low-sodium diet
- Weigh yourself daily. Report a sudden, significant weight gain to your doctor or care manager
- Work with a care manager who will assist you in managing your condition (Level II – Congestive Heart Failure Care Management Program)
As a Kaiser Permanente member, you may:
- Participate in related health education classes.
- Contact your primary care physician to discuss if the Level II, Heart Failure Program is right for you
Congestive Heart Failure Information:
Resources
