1.  Assess acute symptoms and changes in cardiovascular and pulmonary status for safety

2.  Identify modifications of treatment based on symptom changes and presentation

3.  Seek actions/essential documentation for effective communication to team members

 

1.  The CHF Team and roles:  RN, PT, OT, Dietary, Aide

     a.  symptom recognitions and communication terms within the team

     b.  tips on teacahing to reinforce yet not overlap topics of varied services

2.  CHF Physiology: in detail if you want it; if not, this area is abbrieviated

    a.  cardiovascular etiology

    b.  cardiomyopathy

    c.  non-cardiac impairments:  vasodilation, skeletal muscle changes, ventilatory change

3.  Medical tests and Measurements and relevence to PT/OT assessment (i.e. "get your bearings")

     a.  cardiac catheterization

     b.  echocardiogram

     c.  exercise testing

     d.  ABG's

     e.  chest x-ray

     f.  special:  IABP, pacremakers, transplant

4.  Right v. Left sided CHF symptom recognition:  JVD, pedal edema; S3, rales, dyspnea

5.  Medications and CHF

     a.  recognition of groups, common names and dosages

     b.  practice recognition of these via sample case studies

6.  Nutrition:  where we border, teach, &/or reinforce information esptcially related to exercise/ADL progression

     a.  calories

     b.  sodium

     c.  hydration v. diruesis

7.  Classifications of CHF by major heart professional groups

     a.  New York Heart Association Functional Grades of CHF

     b.  American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Stages

     c.   terminology and writing goals for various Grade Levels I-IV

8.  Patient teaching

     a.  sample handouts

     b.  topic areas related to exercise/ADL progression and compliance

9.  Interventions specific to CHF Rehab

     a.   exercise prescription from bed level patients to Mall walkers

     b.  precautions and safety tips to guide intensity of exercise or ADL

     c.  warm-ups:  three levels to meet the wide continuum of exercise abilities

     d.  calf muscle training component:   rationale, impact, and progression

10.  Documentation tips for prevention of denials

11.  Case Studies, case studies,  and more case studies