Heart failure and palliative care services working in partnership: report of a new model of care

Palliat Med. 2006 Sep;20(6):593-601. doi: 10.1177/0269216306071060.

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that people with advanced heart failure have at least as great a need for supportive and palliative care as those with malignant disease. However, specialist palliative care services are seldom involved in their care in the UK. We describe a three-year collaboration between community-based heart failure nurse specialists and existing specialist palliative care services. In the model of care that has evolved, the heart failure nurses remain key workers throughout the illness. They run a regular support group for patients and carers in the setting of a hospice day therapy unit, referring patients for other palliative care involvement as necessary. Activity data and the results of patient interviews are presented. These suggest that the model is a cost effective, sustainable way of providing high quality care for people with heart failure.

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ambulatory Care / economics*
  • Caregivers / organization & administration
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Delivery of Health Care / economics*
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / economics
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Hospices / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nurse's Role
  • Nurse-Patient Relations
  • Palliative Care / economics
  • Palliative Care / organization & administration*
  • Patient-Centered Care / economics
  • Patient-Centered Care / organization & administration