A study of the relationship between home care services and hospital readmission of patients with congestive heart failure

Home Healthc Nurse. 1997 Feb;15(2):123-9. doi: 10.1097/00004045-199702000-00008.

Abstract

Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) constitute a substantial portion of the caseloads of home care agencies. Home care is one strategy suggested for delaying or preventing hospital readmissions. This study examined the relationship between home care nursing services and hospital readmissions after 1176 discharges of patients with a primary diagnosis of CHF. It also described the home nursing care of such patients. Findings indicate that patients receiving home care nursing services were readmitted to the hospital significantly less often within a period of 90 days after hospital discharge.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Community Health Nursing / standards*
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / nursing*
  • Home Care Services / standards*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Patient Readmission*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Workload