Congestive Heart Failure Disease Management

What is it?

The Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Disease Management Program is designed for Sanford Health Plan members who have been diagnosed with CHF, and provides them with information about CHF and lifestyle. The information is sent quarterly and includes topics such as: medications, nutrition, following a treatment plan, exercise and activity, managing other chronic conditions, advance care planning and depression.

The goal of the CHF Disease Management Program is to provide tools to educate our members on promoting improved health through better prevention, detection, treatment and education. These tools will facilitate understanding and consumer responsibility for their disease as well as coordination of care between the member and his/her healthcare practitioner.

How do I refer a patient?

Sanford Health Plan identifies eligible members through claims, Case Management, Worksite Wellness screenings and also encourages practitioners to send referrals to our Disease Management programs. By completing and returning the referral form to Sanford Health Plan, you are partnering with us to provide the best possible care to our members - your patients.

Resources/Tools 

American Heart Association - The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."

HeartHub for Patients - An interactive patient portal your patients can quickly and easily find tips, tools, videos and much more. You can also find tools to enhance your practice which include patient brochures, printable information sheets and interactive tools.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute  - The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provide leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders. For health professionals and the public, the NHLBI conducts educational activities, including development and dissemination of materials in the above areas, with an emphasis on prevention.

Heart Failure Society of America  - Sanford Health Plan is responsible for adopting and distributing clinical practice guidelines for acute, chronic and behavioral healthcare services that are releavent to our membership.  The Plan's multi-specialty physician committee, the Physician Quality Committee, has reviewed and approved the Heart Failure Society of America guidelines for congestive heart failure.

DASH Diet  - The two DASH studies demonstrated the effect of diet on high blood pressure. Further studies have found that following the DASH eating plan and making other lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including certain cancers, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and osteoporosis.