KDMC participates in national research study on heart failure outcomes

King’s Daughters has been selected to participate in a large-scale, pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate the effect of health system-level quality improvement compared with usual care on heart failure outcomes and heart failure quality-of-care metrics.

The CONNECT – HF Care OptimizatioN Through PatieNt and Hospital Engagement Clinical Trial for Heart Failure (CONNECT – HF) is sponsored by Duke University in collaboration with Duke Clinical Research Institute.

The CONNECT – HF study purpose is to improve outcomes and lower readmission rates for chronic Heart Failure patients through both digital patient involvement and hospital quality improvement interventions. King’s Daughters is randomized to the most involved arm, which includes a dual approach to improved quality measures for our heart failure patients.

King’s Daughters will work with Duke researchers to examine and analyze its current discharge protocols for heart failure patients and choose one or two global quality improvement interventions to be implemented for those patients. KDMC will work with quality improvement, cardiology, hospitalists and outpatient services to identify and implement the intervention(s) determined to be most beneficial to our population.

All enrolled research patients will be given the option to enroll in a digital program, HealthStar, that will involve using an app, a digital scale and pillbox to help ensure compliance with treatment plans. Although this is not mandatory, enrolled patients will be encouraged to participate in HealthStar.

The study includes quality of life assessments at six weeks and at 3, 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge.

For more information on the CONNECT – HF study, please contact King’s Daughters research nurse Jenny Nunley, RN, at (606) 408-1726.