Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multi-disciplinary heart failure (HF) clinics have been shown to improve outcomes for HF patients in randomized clinical trials. However, it is unclear how widely available specialized HF clinics are in Ontario. Also, the service mod...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2012-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/236 |
| _version_ | 1828465760466370560 |
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| author | Wijeysundera Harindra C Trubiani Gina Abrahamyan Lusine Mitsakakis Nicholas Witteman William Paulden Mike van der Velde Gabrielle Kingsbury Kori Krahn Murray |
| author_facet | Wijeysundera Harindra C Trubiani Gina Abrahamyan Lusine Mitsakakis Nicholas Witteman William Paulden Mike van der Velde Gabrielle Kingsbury Kori Krahn Murray |
| author_sort | Wijeysundera Harindra C |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multi-disciplinary heart failure (HF) clinics have been shown to improve outcomes for HF patients in randomized clinical trials. However, it is unclear how widely available specialized HF clinics are in Ontario. Also, the service models of current clinics have not been described. It is therefore uncertain whether the efficacy of HF clinics in trials is generalizable to the HF clinics currently operating in the province.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>As part of a comprehensive evaluation of HF clinics in Ontario, we performed an environmental scan to identify all HF clinics operating in 2010. A semi-structured interview was conducted to understand the scope of practice. The intensity and complexity of care offered were quantified through the use of a validated instrument, and clinics were categorized as high, medium or low intensity clinics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 34 clinics with 143 HF physicians. We found substantial regional disparity in access to care across the province. The majority of HF physicians were cardiologists (81%), with 81% of the clinics physically based in hospitals, of which 26% were academic centers. There was a substantial range in the complexity of services offered, most notably in the intensity of education and medication management services offered. All the clinics focused on ambulatory care, with only one having an in-patient focus. None of the HF clinics had a home-based component to care.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Multiple HF clinics are currently operating in Ontario with a wide spectrum of care models. Further work is necessary to understand which components lead to improved patient outcomes.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:37:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-641aa3c08e424dcf82a350997cd99abe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:37:48Z |
| publishDate | 2012-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-641aa3c08e424dcf82a350997cd99abe2022-12-22T01:22:12ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632012-08-0112123610.1186/1472-6963-12-236Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scanWijeysundera Harindra CTrubiani GinaAbrahamyan LusineMitsakakis NicholasWitteman WilliamPaulden Mikevan der Velde GabrielleKingsbury KoriKrahn Murray<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multi-disciplinary heart failure (HF) clinics have been shown to improve outcomes for HF patients in randomized clinical trials. However, it is unclear how widely available specialized HF clinics are in Ontario. Also, the service models of current clinics have not been described. It is therefore uncertain whether the efficacy of HF clinics in trials is generalizable to the HF clinics currently operating in the province.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>As part of a comprehensive evaluation of HF clinics in Ontario, we performed an environmental scan to identify all HF clinics operating in 2010. A semi-structured interview was conducted to understand the scope of practice. The intensity and complexity of care offered were quantified through the use of a validated instrument, and clinics were categorized as high, medium or low intensity clinics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 34 clinics with 143 HF physicians. We found substantial regional disparity in access to care across the province. The majority of HF physicians were cardiologists (81%), with 81% of the clinics physically based in hospitals, of which 26% were academic centers. There was a substantial range in the complexity of services offered, most notably in the intensity of education and medication management services offered. All the clinics focused on ambulatory care, with only one having an in-patient focus. None of the HF clinics had a home-based component to care.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Multiple HF clinics are currently operating in Ontario with a wide spectrum of care models. Further work is necessary to understand which components lead to improved patient outcomes.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/236 |
| spellingShingle | Wijeysundera Harindra C Trubiani Gina Abrahamyan Lusine Mitsakakis Nicholas Witteman William Paulden Mike van der Velde Gabrielle Kingsbury Kori Krahn Murray Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan BMC Health Services Research |
| title | Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan |
| title_full | Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan |
| title_fullStr | Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan |
| title_short | Specialized multi-disciplinary heart failure clinics in Ontario, Canada: an environmental scan |
| title_sort | specialized multi disciplinary heart failure clinics in ontario canada an environmental scan |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/236 |
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