They're watching you! Performance measurement, staffing, and facilities requirements

The aim of this article is to convey the importance of attention to performance measures, staffing, and facilities requirements when planning a heart failure management program in a short-stay area. Written performance measures that reflect care excellence and act as standards of care will ensure consistency in care delivery and lead to improved patient outcomes. Staffing can be carried out in many ways (physician led-program, physician-advanced practice nurse-led program, nurse-mediated care program, or multidisciplinary providers of care); however, a clinical leader willing to champion the program should be sought to promote performance achievement, negotiate for facilities resources, and guide staff through education and example. Facilities requirements include tools (forms that embed evidence-based practice to augment standards of care such as care algorithms, admission and discharge forms, and patient education materials) and devices that aide in patient assessment, diagnosis, management, and education. Minimal device resources needed to meet performance measures are access to echocardiography and B-type natriuretic peptide serum testing.