Heart failure (HF) is a high burden condition for Americans and the health care system serving them—heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for patients over 65 with rates of rehospitalization as high as 65% within 6 months of the index hospital stay. Post-acute follow up in the home is one strategy to reduce the burden of heart failure on the US health care system and home health care agencies are the most common type of post-acute care provider for patients with heart failure. Yet there is little evidence on the most effective ways to reduce rehospitalization and improve functional status outcomes for HF patients receiving home health care.
The purpose of the study is to determine factors predictive of rehospitalization and functional decline in HF patients receiving home health care and identify whether specific approaches to delivery of care (higher visit intensity) is associated with lower rehospitalization and functional status decline, potentially reducing the burden of HF on individual patients and the health care system.
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