Managing Heart Failure in Primary Care

During the two days, normal heart function and basic pathophysiology of heart failure is explained. This knowledge is then related to the diagnosis of heart failure, and overall management of patients with heart failure. Device therapy is briefly discussed at the end of the day to increase awareness of treatment options, and palliative care is also briefly explored in order to encourage clinicians to provide patients with opportunities to have early end of life discussions, and improve palliative care in heart failure.

This course is suitable for Nurses and Doctors to attend.

"This was wonderful!" 

"Excellent tutor and course content. Made Heart Failure understandable! BIG thank-you!"

"Excellent and informative course with a dynamic tutor. The knowledge gained wil enhance my professional and clinical practice. Thank-you!"

Past delegates

Day One

• Epidemiology
• The normal heart, anatomy and physiology
• Pathophysiology of heart failure – neurohormonal activation
• Clinical presentation, signs and symptoms
• History, assessment and clinical examination
• Practical Sessions – history and clinical examination
• Differential diagnoses
• Investigations – including B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and echocardiogram (ECHO)
• Diagnosis – review of ECHOs (Practical Session)

Day Two

• Pharmacological intervention – indication- contraindications- action and pharmokinetics related to neurohormonal activation- side effects-novel agents
• Non-medical management –- patient education- lifestyle- self monitoring/management- early warning
• Device therapy – CRT-P and CRT-d
• Palliative Care and heart failure
• Practical Session/Group work - Case Studies - exploring day to day challenges and clinical dilemmas.

• To understand the normal function of the heart.
• To comprehend the basic pathophysiology of heart failure, and an improved knowledge of neurohormonal activation.
• To be able to identify the mechanisms of decompensated heart failure and the symptom burden of heart failure.
• To recognise the importance of evidenced based medicine and uptitration of doses in heart failure, and be able to relate this to neurohormonal activation.
• To be able to promote patient expertise and confidence to increase self care and self monitoring in heart failure.
• To have an increased awareness of device therapy in heart failure.
• To explore the barriers to end of life discussions and palliative care

• Nurses - view related courses
• Cardiac Physiologist and Technicians - view related courses
• Physiotherapists - view related courses