Heart Failure and Home Health Care Referral Utilization

Heart Failure and Home Health Care Referral Utilization Purpose The purpose was to increase provider awareness of the benefits of home health care (HHC) referrals for heart failure patients. It aimed to increase HHC referral utilization intention to maintain compliance with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) recommendation for early follow-up within seven days post-discharge. Background Heart failure is a major cause of readmissions in older adults. HHC has been shown to reduce readmissions and improve outcomes post-discharge. HHC referrals remain underused despite its benefits, due to limited provider awareness. This project addressed the gap at a Southeast Texas suburban hospital through an intervention promoting HHC referrals as part of evidence-based, patient-centered care. Methodology Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, a strategically placed visual prompt of a flyer was implemented in nine key provider areas to promote consideration of HHC referrals. A voluntary QR-code-linked survey assessed providers’ knowledge and intent to refer. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to evaluate quantitative and qualitative responses. Limitations included time constraints and staff turnover. Results Although survey responses were limited to five doctors (n= 5), they showed an increase in provider awareness and intent from 60 percent to 100 percent after intervention. The themes found were awareness through visibility, reinforcement of guidelines, motivation to act, and perceived feasibility. Implications Low-cost informational flyers can effectively influence provider awareness and behavior. Future initiatives can incorporate ways to expand impact, increase response rates, and integrate HHC referrals into routine discharge planning.