Primary Palliative Care in Heart Failure: A Pilot Trial
Heart Failure
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Heart Failure focused on measuring Palliative care
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- New York Heart Association Class III or IV Heart Failure
- 2 or more hospitalizations in the past year due to Heart Failure
Exclusion Criteria:
- Less than 40 years old
- Currently awaiting a transplant
- Received outpatient palliative care within the past 12 months
- Pregnant or intends to be within the next 12 months
- No regular phone access
- Not fluent in English
- Failed the Callahan 6-item Screener
- Does not intent to regularly attend clinic for the next 12 months
Sites / Locations
- UPMC Heart Vascular Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Primary Palliative Care
Usual Care
The intervention will be delivered through four primary mechanisms. First, an existing HF nurse will deliver the intervention to patients during regularly scheduled visits. Second, telephone calls will reinforce topics. Third, patients will regularly report symptoms through the MyUPMC patient portal. Fourth, the nurse will act as a liaison to communicate concerns to the patient's cardiologist and primary care physician, as well as facilitating other resources (e.g., home health). In addition, follow-up assessments will be completed via phone or email at least 2 weeks post-intervention delivery. Caregivers will complete surveys during the first in-person visit and then during the follow-up assessments.
Patients randomized to the control arm of this study will continue to receive the standard of high-quality HF care provided to all patients. Control patients may still receive palliative care outside of the study.