Chronic Heart Failure: A Primary Care Approach

This is the nursing pathway, the GP pathway will be launching in November 2023. 

The Chronic Heart Failure: A Primary Care Approach course provides a thorough exploration of CHF management within the community and primary health sector. It underscores the significance of utilising Heart Foundation resources, particularly the 2018 Guidelines, to enhance patient care. The course also places a strong emphasis on fostering cultural awareness and delivering holistic, multidisciplinary care when working with CHF patients.

The course curriculum encompasses a wide range of topics, including the anatomy and physiology of the heart, an introductory overview of heart failure, assessments and diagnosis procedures, and comprehensive guidance on CHF treatment and management.

Throughout the course, you will have access to a wealth of supplementary resources and practical case studies to deepen your understanding and skills.

This course is designed to support GPs, practice nurses and Aboriginal health workers and other primary care providers with preventing disease progression in their patients, reducing complications, and improving quality of life.

1. Anatomy and Physiology

• Review of the heart's structure and function.
• Blood flow through the heart.
• Overview of gaseous exchange.
• Comparison of normal heart structure to heart failure structure.
• Explanation of pathophysiology, including concepts like pre-load, after-load, and contractility.

2. Introduction to Heart Failure

• Examination of the burden of CHF, including its economic costs and increasing rates.
• Definition of heart failure as the heart's inability to pump efficiently to meet the body's metabolic needs.
• Differentiating between Chronic HF and Congested CF.
• Identification of various causes of HF, including heart valve issues, arrhythmias, heart attacks, hypertension, and more.
• Explanation of types of HF and ejection fraction.
• Discussion of stages of HF and associated comorbidities.
• Mental health assessment and social history assessment.
• Online assessments using various resources.

3. Assessing Heart Failure

• Evaluation of patient presentation, including opportunistic screenings and health assessments.
• Differentiation of symptoms based on the type of heart failure (right vs. left).
• Holistic assessment, considering physical, psychological, social, and emotional aspects.
• Mental health assessment and social history assessment.
• Online assessments with patient case studies and cultural planning.

4. Diagnosis

• Overview of diagnostic workup based on Heart Foundation guidelines.
• Pathology investigations, including blood tests and fasting pathology.
• Use of clinical assessment results, including vital signs, ECG, arterial blood gas, chest X-ray, and echocardiogram.
• Discussion of dialysis, health pathways, cardiologist referrals, and follow-up with GPs.
• Online resources for further reference.

5. Treatment

• Emphasis on the management, not cure, of CHF.
• Development of cardiac care plans and utilization of healthcare professionals.
• Review of current patient medications and medications for different types of HF.
• Lifestyle recommendations, including diet, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, stress management, and mental health.
• Discussion of traditional medicines and therapies.
• Multidisciplinary care and online assessments from a nursing perspective.

6. Management

• Role of primary healthcare professionals in chronic disease management.
• Patient education, including self-management, daily weights, dietary restrictions, and exercise.
• Regular reviews and evaluations of treatment progress.
• Monitoring through blood tests and preventative health measures.
• Focus on patient behavioral change and self-management in multidisciplinary care.
• Consideration of CHF management in metro vs. rural locations, including telehealth and community-based care.
• Referrals to cardiac rehab nurses, dietitians, home medication reviews, social services, and psychologists.
• Online resources and case studies for further learning.

Entrants to the Chronic Heart Failure course must provide evidence of a relevant professional role. Relevant roles would include:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
• Registered Nurses
• Enrolled Nurses
• General Practitioners
• Other Primary Care Providers
• Others on application.

In this course, we will guide you through a journey that equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in CHF Care within Primary Health.

• Comprehend the Pathophysiology of Chronic Heart Failure: Gain an understanding of the underlying mechanisms and processes involved in Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), or refresh existing knowledge.
• Navigate Heart Failure Clinical Guidelines: Acquire an overview of the Heart Foundation’s Heart failure clinical guidelines: Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of heart failure in Australia 2018, ensuring familiarity with current best practices.
• Explain: the various causative factors, recognise the signs and symptoms, and differentiate between different types and stages of Chronic Heart Failure.
• Identify High-Risk Patients: Develop the ability to identify individuals at risk of developing Chronic Heart Failure based on risk factors and clinical indicators.
• Recognise Chronic Heart Failure Triggers: Identify the precipitating factors and triggers that can lead to the onset or exacerbation of Chronic Heart Failure.
• Understand Pharmacological CHF Treatment: Gain competence in understanding and managing pharmacological interventions for Chronic Heart Failure.
• Support Lifestyle Management: Learn strategies for supporting patients in managing their lifestyle effectively to mitigate the impact of Chronic Heart Failure.
• Address Holistic Health Impact: Address the multifaceted impact of Chronic Heart Failure on an individual's psychological, physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being.
• Understand Care Coordination Role: Develop a clear understanding of your role as a healthcare professional in coordinating care for individuals living with Chronic Heart Failure, ensuring comprehensive and patient-centered care.

Online learning with a formative assessment completed via accessIQ. Followed by a full-day virtual workshop.

A formative assessment is used to conduct an in-process self-evaluation of your learning. You must attain 100% for each assessment block to proceed with the course.

Students enrolled in The Benchmarque Group courses should adhere to the following principles:

• Display a commitment to learning and to achieving success
• Be responsible and accountable for their own learning, behaviour and decisions
• Actively participate in all workshop activities and learning experiences
• Attend all scheduled sessions and be punctual at all times
• Complete all online assessments and workplace practice activities
• Work in harmony and respect the rights and opinions of staff and other students
• Treat others as they themselves would like to be treated
• Use acceptable language at all times.

Heart Foundation’s Heart failure clinical guidelines: Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of heart failure in Australia 2018

• https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-heart/conditions/heart-failure-clinical-guidelines 

WAPHA, as part of the Federal Government’s Community Health and Hospitals Program, is undertaking a Chronic Heart Failure Pilot Project. This activity will support general practice in leading and coordinating the provision of multidisciplinary care, with appropriate support, consistent with the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions and the National Heart Foundation of Australia’s evidence-based principles and recommendations for best practice for CHF management. The project focuses on:

• Building capacity in general practice,
• Using quality improvement cycles to optimise general practice processes,
• Empowering and educating CHF patients and their carers,
• Developing the role of practice nurses in CHF management,
• Collaborating with pharmacists,
• Strengthening collaboration between primary and tertiary care.

The Chronic Heart Failure course has two clinical pathways. One pathway for General Practitioners and one pathway for Registered and Enrolled nurses, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners

The GP pathway is an approved Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) CPD Activity and enables GPs to be awarded CPD activity points on completion of learning. The Nursing pathway is nationally accredited, and on successful completion of the course, Registered and Enrolled nurses, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners will be issued with an accredited statement of attainment.

Not yet. Benchmarque Group is working with WAPHA to have the Nursing Pathway nationally accredited with ASQA. This process takes approximately 6 months. If you completed the course prior to this, any participating student in the Nursing Pathway will have their learning recognised as soon as the accreditation process is completed.

At the completion of the course, GPs will receive a Certificate of Completion and the associated RACGP CPD activity points. Students completing the Nursing Pathway will receive a nationally accredited statement of attainment for Chronic Heart Failure.

If you are completing the Nursing pathway, you must attend a workshop. The Nursing pathway is nationally accredited and therefore includes learning that is focussed around knowledge and skills. It is critical that students spend time in a classroom environment to ensure that the skills can be applied immediately into practice. But don’t worry, the workshop is virtual, meaning you do not have to travel to complete this valuable learning.

If you have any questions, you can use our handy Intercom live chat, which will be able to provide you will any help, whether that be from our bot or from a person on the other end.

If this doesn’t answer your questions, then at any time during your study, you can email the Benchmarque Group Student Experience Team directly at [email protected] and receive an email reply or request a call back from one of our amazing team members.