American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, Milner-Fenwick announce partnership

Milner-Fenwick, a multi-media publisher for the healthcare community, and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) announced a partnership which includes the AAHFN's endorsement of Milner-Fenwick's Heart Failure Patient Education Video Series.

The series consists of five videos focusing on specific aspects of heart failure and a one hour program designed for patients to use at home, Living with Heart Failure: A Home Video Guide. Topics cover an overview of heart failure, daily management skills, nutrition and exercise, medications, and tips for after leaving the hospital.

This partnership will build on the existing series according to David Milner, Milner-Fenwick President. He says, "Working together, we plan to expand the video series, develop companion materials, and focus on innovative delivery methods. Our goal is to enhance the patient experience and improve the quality of care for one of the most expensive conditions to manage."

Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. According to the CDC, it affects over 5.7 million people in the U.S., causes over 55,000 deaths, and contributes to over 280,000 deaths each year. This disease also costs the nation over $34 billion annually, much of that associated with hospitalization. Most heart failure hospitalizations are for those aged 65 and over, but the proportion under age 65 has increased significantly since 2000.

These patients are particularly vulnerable to frequent and costly hospital readmissions which is why heart failure is a primary focus of Medicare's efforts to reduce readmissions through financial incentives and penalties to hospitals.

According to AAHFN President, Linda Baas, RN, PhD, ACNP, CHFN, "Persons with heart failure need to understand the disorder and what they can do to improve their cardiovascular health, manage their treatment plan, and ultimately improve the quantity and quality of life. Because heart failure must be monitored and closely managed at home, patient education is an essential nursing intervention."

"With that in mind, AAHFN is pleased to partner with Milner Fenwick, a company that has been bringing exceptional health care educational resources to market," says Dr. Baas. "They have high standards and produce multi-media materials that are user friendly and very effective."

Milner relates, "Collaborating with AAHFN will allow us to take this series to a new level. Their passion for heart failure care and their prominent role on the front lines of heart failure treatment nationwide will be tremendous assets moving forward."

This series is designed to educate heart failure patients and their caregivers at various points of care from diagnosis to home recovery. They are available for delivery in multiple formats including DVD, websites, hospital video on-demand systems, tablets, and smart phones.