Improving heart failure in home care with chronic disease management and telemonitoring.

Home Health Compare rates for Emergent Care and Acute Hospitalization increased undesirably for Athens Regional Home Health. Data revealed that the increase was due to heart failure exacerbation. It was hypothesized that a chronic disease management program with telemonitoring, to include chest fluid bioimpedance, would allow for earlier intervention, thus preventing emergency department visits and acute care readmissions. This article describes the agency's performance improvement initiative that resulted in a decrease in these rates while improving patient outcomes and increasing agency referrals.