SPONSORED: What’s their risk of Heart Failure?

Heart failure (HF) is common in Australia, with an estimated 61,000 individuals diagnosed annually. Only 20% of those hospitalised subsequently enrol in hospital-based disease management programs, with access especially limited in regional and remote communities. The remaining 80% are mostly reliant upon their general practitioners (GPs) for ongoing management.

When there aren’t clinically observable signs or symptoms of a patient’s new or worsening HF, identifying and managing the condition in general practice can be challenging.^2,4 Data suggests many HF patients are sub-optimally treated in primary care, often not on the most appropriate therapies or at target doses.²  

The Heart Failure Triage Tool is a simple-to-use clinical decision-making tool for GPs, designed to flag patients at risk of HF and offer recommendations for treatment and management.  

The tool scans the patient’s clinical record against a set of predetermined HF-related criteria, alerting the GP to the identification of possible, probable, or definite HF.  

The evidence-based algorithm incorporates current guidelines for prevention, detection, and management of HF in Australia, together with findings from the SHAPE study.^2,5  

The Heart Failure Triage Tool is accessible on the Topbar application, a software created by Pen CS that integrates with commonly used desktop medical systems like Best Practice and Medical Director.*  

Learn more about the Heart Failure Triage Tool by visiting MedHub (login required) or contacting Pen CS directly.  

*All Topbar Apps comply with the Pen CS Clinical and Data Governance Framework and Guiding Principles, available on request. Pen CS is ISO27001 certified for information security management systems.  

References:

1.ChanYK,TuttleC,BallJ,etal.BMCHealthServRes.2016;16:501.

2.Whaddon ParsonsR,LiewD,MunroNevilleA,etal.BMCPublicHealth.2020;20:648.

3.ScottI,JacksonC.Aust Fam Physician. 2013;42(5):343-346. 4. Sabbah HN. Eur J Heart Fail. 2017 Apr;19(4):469-478. 5. NHFA CSANZ Heart Failure Guidelines Working Group, Atherton JJ, Sindone A, et al. Heart Lung Circ. 2018;27(10):1123-1208.  

Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Pty Limited. ABN 18 004 244 160. 54 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113. Ph (02) 9805 3555. HNOV719g. AU-22905. February 2023.