New York Methodist Hospital - Congestive Heart Failure Volunteer Intervention Program

What is it?

In spring 2010, Dr. John Heitner, the director of non-invasive imaging at New York Methodist Hospital, initiated an IRB-approved research study. The hypothesis of the study was to prove whether trained volunteers visiting congestive heart failure (CHF) patients and reinforcing vital disease management information, both in the hospital and after discharge via telephone call, could impact readmission rates. Volunteer training included health literacy techniques and CHF symptoms and treatment. This was the first study in a community hospital setting that program leaders knew of that utilized trained volunteers to improve patient education on medication and diet adherence, self-monitoring, and engagement of their health care to reduce 30-day readmission rates of patients with CHF.

The preliminary results of Dr. Heitner’s study were excellent, far exceeding other documented initiatives. The vice president for nursing was so impressed with the patient response to the study and the results that she approached the volunteer director to develop an ongoing CHF support program on the Progressive Care Unit. The program has been going strong five years later.

Who is it for?

CHF patients at New York Methodist Hospital.

Why do they do it?

CHF diagnoses contribute the largest volume of readmissions in U.S. hospitals within 30 days of patient discharge. The goal of this program is to reduce the 30-day readmission rates of patients with CHF by the intervention of trained volunteers.

Impact

For CHF patients who were discharged to home, the volunteer intervention was associated with downward trends in the composite outcome; there was 54 percent relative reduction from a rate of 49 percent in the control group compared with 23 percent in the trained volunteers group.

Contact: Wendy Froede
Director, Volunteer Resources
Telephone: 718-780-5399
Email: wlf9001@nyp.org