Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure in Outpatient Physical Therapy Settings (Recorded Webinar)

1. Pathophysiology and Medical Management

The ability to understand the pathophysiology and medical management of systolic and diastolic heart failure is essential to improve clinical confidence for assessment and treatment. This chapter will provide the clinician with the ability to understand similarities, differences, and considerations for each type of heart failure.

2. Decompensated Heart Failure

Hospital re-admission rates for heart failure are nearly 60% within 6 months of discharge. Each exacerbation increases frailty risk and associated morbidity and mortality. In addition, the decompensated state impedes successful rehab intervention. This chapter will provide the clinician with the ability to both recognize and determine severity of decompensation, which will improve clinical decision making and support medical management.

3. Exercise Response in Heart Failure

Hemodynamic response to exercise varies across the spectrum of heart failure and is influenced by many factors such as age, medications and comorbidities. This chapter will provide the clinician with the ability to interpret normal and abnormal hemodynamic response to exercise to improve clinical competence for treatment planning.

4. Clinical Assessment and Treatment

Appropriate evaluation of a patient with congestive heart failure is essential for risk stratification, and design and implementation of an appropriate treatment plan. This chapter will provide a blueprint for assessment and risk stratification to guide clinical decision making and treatment planning.

5. Using Diagnostic Testing for Clinical Decision-Making

Stress testing, echocardiography, nuclear imaging, ECG, and pulmonary function testing are all common diagnostic tests for patients with congestive heart failure. Each provides valuable clinical information. This chapter aims to provide the clinician with the capacity to interpret medical diagnostic tests for the purpose of risk stratification and clinical decision-making.

6. Case Studies

Case studies will be utilized to provide examples of common patient presentations and treatment considerations. These clinical scenarios will foster critical thinking and decision-making for various severities of heart failure to reinforce the content from prior chapters.