An Acuity Tool for Heart Failure Case Management: Quantifying Workload, Service Utilization, and Disease Severity

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing

Background:

• Heart failure case management (HFCM) requires objective workload measurement.
• Existing methods lacked validity, reliability, and practicality for HFCM productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Kilgore Heart Failure Case Management (KHFCM) Acuity Tool.
• To create a practical means for measuring HFCM workloads and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Systematic design and development using participant action research.
• Mixed-method validation with six outpatient HF case managers.
• Focus on New York Heart Association Functional Class III-IV HF patients.

Main Results:

• The KHFCM Acuity Tool provides a valid reflection of encounter times.
• Demonstrated reliability, practicality, and user satisfaction in measuring HFCM workloads.
• Successfully reflected HF disease severity and case manager productivity.

Conclusions:

• Workload is defined by HFCM services rendered and time duration.
• The tool allows independent measurement of workload, service utilization, and disease characteristics.
• Potential for establishing systemwide productivity benchmarks and informing staffing decisions.