Hartfalen-herstelzorg in Amsterdam. Een succes?

In elderly people heart failure (HF) is a frequently occurring problem, with a high mortality rate and frequent admissions to the hospital. Many of the patients even show frequent transitions between their own homes and hospital. From April 2004 until June 2006 67 patients were included in this program and admitted to the nursing home. After a rehabilitation period with a mean duration of 67 days in the nursing home 81% returned back home. The interviews showed that 72% of the respondents (n=29) were satisfied with the care they received in the nursing home, 78% of the respondents judged the followed rehabilitation program as good. 95 % of the respondents judged their health status after discharge from the nursing home as good or moderate. From the 2,5 years follow- up of all patients appeared that 16% of the patients died and that no hospital readmissions had been taken place. This collaboration between a hospital and a nursing home in Amsterdam is a good example of a successful rehabilitation program in a perspective of chain supply of care.