[Clinical itinerary for heart failure: a program designed by primary care practitioners in Geneva]

Episodes of heart failure impact on patients' quality of life as well as their morbidity and mortality. This article describes a series of interventions designed by a group of primary care practitioners in Geneva. Some interventions aim to improve patients' autonomy in identifying the first signs of heart failure to act immediately. Others focus on patients' motivation to adopt appropriate behaviours (physical activity, etc.). And finally others have the objective to improve coordination between ambulatory and hospital care, as well as the transmission of clinical information. The implementation of these interventions highlights the need for individualised objectives of care in complex cases where patients have several co-morbidities and/or complicated social situations. In these situations an interdisciplinary approach is also essential.