Percent of Heart Failure Patients Given Discharge Instructions

Why Is This Treatment Important?

Heart failure is a chronic condition. It results in symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Before you leave the hospital, the staff at the hospital should provide you with information to help you manage the symptoms after you get home. The information should include your:

• activity level (what you can and can't do)
• diet (what you should, and shouldn't eat or drink)
• medications
• follow-up appointment
• watching your daily weight
• what to do if your symptoms get worse

What the Scores Mean

A higher percentage, or score, is good because it means more patients received the recommended treatment. However, a lower score does not necessarily indicate poor care. You should consider the overall quality of a facility in addition to individual category scores.

About the Data

The data on this site is reported to the Department of Health and Human Services and is updated on a quarterly basis. It represents patient care data from July 2010 through June 2011, which was released in May 2012. The explanation of the data is courtesy of the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, please visit the Hospital Compare website.