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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Improving quality of life and decreasing readmissions in heart failure patients in a multidisciplinary
Charlene D Whitaker-Brown1, Stephanie J Woods2, Judith B Cornelius2
1University of North Carolina at Charlotte, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute's Heart Success Clinic, Carolinas Medical Center-Main, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203, USA.
Objectives:
The purpose was to pilot the feasibility and impact of a 4-week transition-to-care program on quality of life for heart failure patients.
Background:
The transition from the acute care to the outpatient setting has been shown to be a critical time with heart failure patients.
Methods:
A pre- and post-test design was used. Quality of Life, measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, and hospital readmissions were the outcomes. A convenience sample of 50 persons was recruited into a multidisciplinary transition-to-care program for heart failure patients following hospitalization. Thirty-six (72%) completed the study.
Results:
There was a significant improvement in quality of life. Men reported greater improvement in physical symptoms and less emotional distress when compared to women. Only 2 participants were readmitted within 30 days.
Conclusions:
Study findings support improved quality of life and decreased readmission rates following a multidisciplinary transition-to care program for heart failure patients.
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