I am of the opinion that optimal medical treatment in conjuntion with auditing of this complex group of patients . For example arrange for outpatient follow up of key and routine tests such as complete blood biochemistry , chest x-ray and echocardiogramme  in conjunction with 14 days outpatient reviewal after discharge from the heart failure ward

This is how I manage my patients and readmissions in my hospital is  in the region of 60(sixty) days post discharge

 

Eric,

With the "baby boom" inception into the Medicare realm; hospitalization rates can only increase. Re-hospitalization rates naturally should follow. Whether one has Class III or IV CHF or angina, or is pro-inflammatory; wireless sensors to help co-manage disease processes could hold significant value. Preventing re-hospitalization for heart failure would be a huge savings for CMS; but the possibility of 'remote' disease management of hypertension, cardiomyopathies, oncologic and hematologic pathologies; silent angina....list goes on; empowers the patient and physician. The technology is here; its appropriateness needs to be vetted.

Issues will be how is it paid for, who deserves to be monitored, is it temporary or permanent, and physician/technician  training.

Hope all is well,

Scott Sheldon

The heart is a muscle like any other in the body. It needs blood flow to supply oxygen to allow it to do work. When there isn't enough oxygen, the muscle starts to suffer, and when there is no oxygen, the muscle starts to die.Carnegie Mellon University has a great new marketing tool when they came up with the Death Risk Rankings.  The Death Risk Rankings are fairly scientific, as the death calculator analyzes statistics and medical questions as well as taking where a person lives into account as well. Their website, at deathrickrankings.com can give you an estimate on whether or not a person will be kicking the bucket in the next year or two.  It's a lot more scientific than other death calculator tools that just say a person will get attacked by rabid cannibal squirrels.  A person can determine their death risk rankings without needing to get fast cash to find out – but it's only a prediction.