Author/Editor		Lainščak, Mitja
Title		Vloga in pomen ambulante za srčno popuščanje
Translated title		Role and importance of heart failure outpatient clinic
Type		članek
Source		In: Hojs R, Krajnc I, Pahor A, et al, editors. Zbornik predavanj in praktikum Iz prakse za prakso z mednarodno udeležbo. 13. srečanje internistov in zdravnikov splošne medicine; 2002 maj 10-11; Maribor. Maribor: Splošna bolnišnica Maribor,
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 237-52
Language		slo
Abstract		Heart failure is a common and serious condition associated with poor quality of life and adverse outcome. Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines have been well estabtished for several years but implementation in clinical practice is inadequate. Frequent hospitalisations represent the main portion of heart failure healthcare costs. The heart failure outpatient clinic enables comprehensive disease management and can be organized as a part of secondary or primary care. The main goals are reduction in healthcare costs and in the number of hospitalisations, the implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines, and improvement in the patient's quality of life. Pharmacist, dietician, physiotherapist, psychologist and social senrices all play an important role in disease management but the physician and the nurse are the main care providers. With the exception of one study, each of the presented programmes demonstrated favourable outcomes including a lower hospitalisation rate and healthcare costs, a better quality of life, an improved functional status, better diagnostic management as well as more frequent use of recommended drugs. Slovenian data on the management of heart failure patients, though scarce, show clear benefits of the outpatient clinic. The heart failure outpatient clinic also serves as the basis of heart failure disease management in Slovenia.
Descriptors		HEART FAILURE, CONGESTIVE OUTPATIENT CLINICS, HOSPITAL