Abstract:
Purpose: Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospital readmission. Hospitals and
other health facilities have implemented the Patient Navigator Program (PNP) to help reduce a
30-day heart failure readmission. The purpose of the study was to implement an evidence-based
practice PNP in an acute care facility in Mississippi to reduce 30-day heart failure readmissions
in six weeks.
Methods: In this study, a comparison of the heart failure readmission rates prior to the
implementation of the PNP and the heart failure readmission rates six weeks after the
implementation of the PNP was conducted. The PNP was composed of one principal
investigator, two nurse navigators, and one pharmacist that provided six evidence-based practice
interventions to heart failure patients who met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The patients were
followed from admission to six weeks after discharge and a satisfaction survey was also
administered.
Results: The implementation of the PNP had a 4.77% reduction in heart failure readmission rates
at the acute care facility in Mississippi. The heart failure readmission rates decreased within the
facility and a five-question Patient Satisfaction Survey was used to measure the performance of
the program.
Discussion: Evidence-based practice research has shown that PNPs have been effective in
reducing heart failure readmission rates and this study showed similar results and had had a
positive impact on the facility’s readmission rate. The PNP must be promoted so that facilities
become aware of its development and the benefits the program has to offer for heart failure
patients and the facility.
