Trinity Health Muskegon One of Ten Hospitals in U.S. with Lowest Readmission Rate for Heart Failure Patients

MUSKEGON, Mich. (September 5, 2024) – Trinity Health Muskegon is the only hospital in West Michigan, and one of just ten hospitals nationwide, with the lowest readmission rate for heart failure patients based on the latest data collected by CMS. 

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure (CHF), is a condition in which the heart is pumping blood throughout the body inefficiently due to damage by a cardiovascular disease. When heart failure occurs, the body does not get the oxygen it needs to maintain healthy tissues. 

According to Joan Nagelkirk, MD, Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Trinity Health Medical Group – Muskegon, there has been a focus on lowering readmissions for CHF patients for many years. “We are consistently below national benchmarks for readmissions and I’m happy to see the fruits of our labor recognized,” she said.

Dr. Nagelkirk’s hospitalist group cares for all CHF patients while they are in the hospital, and she credits this readmission rate recognition to a three-pronged partnership approach. 

“First, our hospitalists stay current on the latest protocols for treating CHF patients while they are in the hospital,” said Dr. Nagelkirk. “Then, when patients are discharged from the hospital, the case managers here schedule them for prompt follow up appointments with their primary care provider. Finally, we refer our patients to our Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at the Trinity Health Heart Center."

The clinic, run by Trinity Health Medical Group Cardiology in Muskegon, provides goal-directed therapy and recovery. “These cardiologists and their team are really committed and passionate about CHF treatment,” Dr. Nagelkirk said. 

For most people, heart failure is a long-term condition that cannot be cured. But treatment can help keep the symptoms under control, often for many years. The type of treatment a patient needs depends on severity, but can include eating less salt, limiting fluid intake, and taking prescription medications. In some cases, a device may be implanted to help monitor their condition.

In fact, Eric Shafer, DO, Cardiologist, Trinity Health Medical Group Cardiology, Medical Director of the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic in Muskegon, and a member of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan, introduced the CardioMEMS Heat Failure System to the clinic.

“This pressure monitoring system makes it possible for us to closely monitor patients with heart failure without their leaving home” Dr. Shafer said. “A small sensor device implanted in their pulmonary artery measures and records their pulmonary artery pressure. This information is transmitted to us in the Clinic so we can review the data and immediately identify if any changes need to be made to a patient’s treatment.”

Dr. Shafer said that this system is an important component in reducing readmissions to the hospital and for improving quality of life and overall survival for patients.

He also credits Katie Alfredson, DNP and Kara Roman, NP, as responsible for a large part of the Clinic’s success. “Katie and Kara really care about our heart failure patients, see them frequently, and are dedicated to helping them control their symptoms and live their best life possible. Their efforts have made a substantial difference,” he said. 

The Clinic focuses solely on CHF patients, providing them with goal-directed medial therapy and a multifaceted approach to care:

•    Optimizing and managing medications for patients on daily basis 
•    Managing diuretics or fluids to help patients stay out of the hospital
•    Educating patients about reading food labels and choosing the right foods to maintain a strict low salt diet
 

Patients are referred to the CHF Clinic by Dr. Nagelkirk’s group after a hospital stay, by their primary care physician or by their cardiologist. 

“These numbers are fantastic, and to reach them here, in a community this size, is amazing,” said Dr. Shafer. “I’m so proud of our teams here in Muskegon and what we’ve been able to do together to help heart failure patients.”