Assessment--patients, chronic heart failure, and home care.

Congestive heart failure is the most common hospital discharge diagnosis in the United States. Increasing hospital readmission rates for this patient population translate into spiraling health care costs. One agency decided to measure the outcomes of patients enrolled in a specialized cardiac home care program that focuses on teaching and monitoring this patient population using cardiac-trained nurses. The findings suggest that patients enrolled in a cardiac specialty program may have improved outcomes, which translates into significant cost savings for payors.