Increasing Quality, Reducing Disparities in Heart Care
Ten hospitals with diverse patients participated in Expecting Success: Excellence in Cardiac Care, a recently completed program to improve the quality of cardiac care while reducing racial and ethnic disparities. Results show that the percentage of patients receiving all recommended care for heart failure improved 37 percent over two years. All participating hospitals improved the quality of care provided to their heart failure and heart attack patients. Access final report.

2009 Heart Failure Patient Education Calendar and Teaching Guide
New versions of tools to help hospitals educate heart failure patients about their condition and teach them self-management skills are now available for download at no cost. The calendar 'You Can Live with Heart Failure – Healthy Habits for Life' provides educational messages and colorful illustrations to help patients take control of their condition. With areas to record information daily, patients use the calendar to record their weight and track their heart failure symptoms. Also available is 'Living with Heart Failure – A Patient Teaching Guide,' a pocket guide to help nurses educate heart failure patients. Access the calendar: English; Spanish. Access the teaching guide. Your hospital logo can be added to the front covers before printing by your institution. Access the instructions.

Tools and Strategies to Improve Care and Address Disparities From Expecting Success
Ten hospitals with racially and ethnically diverse patient populations participated in Expecting Success: Excellence in Cardiac Care, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation aimed at improving quality of cardiac care while reducing racial, ethnic and language disparities. All 10 hospitals improved the quality of care being provided to their heart failure and heart attack patients. A Web-based toolkit provides tools, tips, and strategies for improving quality and reducing health care disparities. More>