Overview
CHF QUERI, with the help of Dr. Robert Jesse, National Program Director for Cardiology, and VA’s Patient Care Services, has initiated the Heart Failure Provider Network (HF Provider Network) – a network of VA providers interested in improving heart failure care throughout the VA Healthcare System. Currently, more than 360 providers (clinicians, researchers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, administrators and others) are participating in this network.
Purpose
The HF Provider Network is an important mechanism for the implementation of interventions that will improve the health and healthcare for veterans with heart failure. Through its collaboration, the HF Provider Network is doing the following:
- Sharing experiences with different heart failure care programs;
- Disseminating effective interventions, including implementation of quality improvement interventions;
- Focusing on IHI’s Save 5 Million Lives Campaign to improve early follow-up following hospital discharge for patients with heart failure;
- Collaborating on heart failure registries;
- Collaborating on research and implementation projects;
- Identifing interested facilities for participation in multi-center health services research projects and other clinical trials; and
- Contributing to implementation research by understanding barriers and facilitators to implementation.
Can Anyone Join?
There is no limit to the number of people who may join per facility. Currently, the HF Provider Network includes a mix of physicians, nurses including advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, researchers, administrators and other providers.
How Does the Heart Failure Provider Network Communicate?
Live meetings and conference calls are held every two months. Each session includes announcements, discussion of new projects and trials, and description of one facility’s heart failure program. In addition, there is one in-person meeting that is held at the Annual Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America (for those Network members who are able to attend) along with conference call for others to join in. The next meeting will be held in Toronto, Canada in September, 2008 ( www.hfsa.org ). The HF Provider Network also communicates via e-mail.
Schedule of Sessions:
| Session Format |
Time/Place |
Presentation Slides |
| In-person Meeting / Conference Call |
September 9, 2006
(Seattle, WA) |
None |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
November 6, 2006 |
 Heidenreich |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
March 2, 2007 |
Heidenreich
Larsen |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
May 1, 2007 |
Heidenreich
Massie
Pina |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
July 9, 2007 |
Heidenreich
Dickson |
| In-person Meeting / Conference Call |
September 17, 2007
(Washington, DC) |
Heidenreich |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
November 8, 2007 |
Heidenreich
Rector |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
January 22, 2008 |
Heidenreich
Fonarow |
| Live Meeting / Conference Call |
March 12, 2008 |
Heidenreich |
What are the Network’s Plans for the Future?
- Creation of affiliated interest groups within heart failure, such as echocardiography; and
- Implementation of interventions, such as reminders and nurse-based clinics.
How Do I Learn More?
For information about joining the Heart Failure Provider Network, contact:
Paul Heidenreich MD, MS
Research Coordinator
E-mail: Paul.Heidenreich@va.gov
Anju Sahay, PhD
Implementation Research Coordinator
E-mail: Anju.Sahay@va.gov
