Overview
The purpose of this research is to see if having community paramedic (CP) visit patients at home to manage their heart failure help them stay out of the hospital and improve their overall health compared to standard care. The investigators want to find out if their approach is better for patients in terms of their quality of life, hospital stays, emergency visits, and cost. The investigators are also looking to see how happy patients and doctors are with this method and if it's a practical and sustainable option for the future.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
One of the following criteria:
- Adults admitted to the hospital with decompensated HF eligible for early discharge with CP support and monitoring.
- Acutely decompensated HF patients at home or being evaluated in the ambulatory clinic who require large volume diuresis but do not require hospital-level monitoring.
- Stage D advanced HF patients who require frequent (>weekly) diuretic adjustments (either inpatient or outpatients).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Hospital-level monitoring or care is clinically indicated.
- Failed safety assessment, active substance abuse, or behavioral health diagnosis which could impact participation.
- Enrolled in hospice.
- Patient is a resident in a skilled nursing facility.
- Patient does not have a primary care physician or cardiologist at Mayo Clinic.
- Patient participants with communication barriers due to medical illness or cognitive impairment.
- Pregnant