Heart Failure Patients Given an Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic (LVS) Function

What Does This Measure?

The percentage of eligible heart failure patients who received an evaluation of how well the left side of the heart is pumping blood.

Why Is This Important?

The proper treatment for heart failure depends on what area of the heart is affected. A left ventricular systolic (LVS) function assessment checks how the left side of the heart is pumping.

The assessment may include an echocardiogram, a physical examination, a chest x-ray, and/or blood work.

What Are We Doing to Improve Our Performance?

Duke has enacted several initiatives to improve our performance. These include:

• Evidence-based medicine
• Computerized physician order entry (CPOE)
• Standardized order sets
• Patient rounding
• Electronic medical records (EMR)
• Six Sigma and DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control process) methodologies
• Nursing and physician education
• Patient safety and clinical quality committees
• Heart failure-specific patient education information
• Patient advocacy and support groups
  
• HealthView patient portal

More Information

• See more heart failure quality measures
• See all performance measures
• Compare Duke to other North Carolina hospitals at NC Hospital Quality Report
• Compare Duke to regional and national hospitals at Hospital Quality Alliance's Hospital Compare