The Congestive Heart Failure Outpatient Program at Methodist Medical Center is provided at no cost to patients. There is no charge to patients or their insurance companies. 160 West Tennessee Ave. Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (865) 835-5225 (Message 1: Inpatient Coordinator) (Message 2: Outpatient Coordinator)

Our purpose and goals
The purpose of the Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Outpatient Program is to teach patients and families about congestive heart failure and how it can be managed-at home. This is accomplished by providing ongoing education, monitoring, and support of the patient and family.

The goals of this program are to improve patients' symptoms to the best level possible, to reduce the need for hospital admissions, and to improve the overall quality of life for patients suffering from CHF.

Who is candidate for the CHF program?
Patients who have a medical diagnosis of congestive heart failure, or who have been told by their physician that they are at risk for developing CHF.

Referrals to the CHF program
In order for a patient to be enrolled in the program, a referral for outpatients must be made by the patient's physician. Referrals may be made while the patient is in the hospital or being cared for as an outpatient. Referrals for patients in the hospital may be made to the nurse coordinator by calling (865) 835-5225. Patients admitted will be seen by an Inpatient Coordinator

Initial visit and education
Once the referral is received, the patient is scheduled to attend an enrollment class. During this visit, the patient and his/her family are trained in home disease management skills.

Telemonitoring provides one-on-one assistance
After the initial visit between the patient and the nurse coordinator, the patient is monitored at home by telephone. Within 2-3 days of this visit, the nurse coordinator will call the patient to assess for symptoms of CHF, answer any questions they may have concerning their condition or treatment, and make recommendations. Initially, the patient receives one phone call per week. The calls decrease over time as the patient's symptoms improve. If a call reveals that the patient is in fact experiencing symptoms, then these symptoms are reported to the patient's physician so appropriate treatment can be started.

CHF nurse coordinator
The CHF Outpatient Program is maintained by the hospital and managed by nursing coordinators:

• Cheryl Stallings, RN BSN for outpatients.
  160 West Tennessee Ave.
  
• Sandra Mincey, RN BSN for inpatients.
  302 Medical Arts Building.
  

Special services to our CHF members
The CHF outpatient program also offers assistance with referrals to home health care agencies, cardiac rehabilitation, and programs that help provide medications, BP cuffs, and scales to those who qualify financially.

You are not alone. Make plans to attend our monthly support group meetings.
Patients are mailed invitations to both support groups and group visits each month. Support group meetings feature guest speakers who present topics related to the management of congestive heart failure. These meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at 6pm in the Methodist Medical Center lobby classroom.

Group visits are meetings during which patients have access to a physician, registered nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, and exercise technician (all during the same visit) to answer any questions and address any problems the patient may be having. These meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:15 at Methodist Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation facility.

Although the telemonitoring phase of the program is approximately six months, patients are invited to attend the monthly meetings indefinitely. They serve as ongoing education and support for patients and families and are offered at no charge.

For more information
Please call the CHF nurse coordinator at (865) 835-5225 for more outpatient information, or ask your physician.