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THE UNIVERSIT Y OF MINNESOTA HE ALTH C.O.R.E. CLINIC PROVIDES A STRUCTURED APPROACH DESIGNED TO HELP PATIENTS WITH HE ART FAILURE AVOID HOSPITALIZ ATION, LIVE LONGER AND ENJOY A HIGHER QUALIT Y OF LIFE. MORE THAN 100,000 Minnesotans are currently living with congestive heart failure, at an annual expenditure exceed- ing $25,000 per patient, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The cost increases to nearly $27,000 annu- ally for congestive heart failure patients with coexisting conditions — more than 55 percent of congestive heart failure patients enrolled in Medicare fall in to this category. T h e C .O. R . E . (C a r d i o m y o p a t h y O p t i m i z a t ion , R e h a bi l it a t ion a n d Education) Clinic for Hea r t Fa ilure Management brings together a team of allied specialists to enhance management of the condition. Its mission is to assist individuals with heart failure by addressing the physical, emotional and financial reali- ties of living with the chronic condition. "Management of congestive heart failure has become increasingly complex, becom- ing a subspecialty within cardiology in its own right," says Eric Ernst, MD, FACC, cardiologist with University of Minnesota Health Heart Care and Medical Director of the C.O.R.E. Clinic. "Those who manage heart failure have to understand how to engage a wide variety of resources and tac- tics in the care of each patient's individual, complex cardiology needs." PURSUING EXCELLENCE By incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, the C.O.R.E. Clinic has been able to address the many needs of patients with congestive heart failure. The C.O.R.E. Clinic was developed to provide a system- atic approach to personalized care. Five distinct phases — evaluation, optimization, resynchronization, stabilization and resta- bilization — are used to ensure patients receive in-depth assessment, treatment, education and support. Heart failure experts at University of Minnesota Health Heart Care established the innovative pro- gram in 2003. Since then, it has expanded to additional locations, including Fairview Ridges Hospita l, Fairview Southda le Hospital, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Clinics – Fridley, and Fairview Northland Medical Center. G r o w t h h a s n o t d i m i n i s h e d t h e g roup's passion for excellence. For the past three yea rs, three hospita ls where t he C.O. R .E . Clinic is ava i lable have ea rned the Gold Plus Awa rd in hea r t fa ilure ca re from the A merica n Hea r t Association's Get With The Guidelines Awa rd s. T hey a re a lso con si st ent ly Personalized Care at the C.O.R.E. Clinic for Heart Failure Management BY MELISSA MOORE 0 6 0 6C O V E R F E A T U R E