Ensuring the proper education of all members of the care team, including patients and caregivers, leads to a more tailored treatment plan. Advocacy and open communication between patients, caregivers, and providers foster shared decision-making for better and longer quality of life.
Empowering Patients and Caregivers Through Education
The more you know about heart failure, the better your ability to make informed decisions about you or your loved one's care. Through proper education, you can be well-equipped to navigate your healthcare journey with confidence.
View HFSA's Heart Failure Patient Education Modules >>
Building Strong Patient-Provider Relationships
Having open communication with your entire care team is important. It may feel intimidating to speak up or ask questions at first, but building that relationship with everyone you interact with will help you receive the best care and outcomes. Patients and caregivers are also part of the care team!
Learn More About Building Strong Patient-Provider Relationships >>
Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Heart Failure
Providers play a critical role in tailoring treatment plans to individuals. Optimal implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in the United States could prevent an additional 100,000 deaths per year.
Other Resources
Heart Failure Beat Healthy Living Podcast: Understanding Treatment Best Practices in Heart Failure
"I want to emphasize the importance for the patient to educate yourself, whether you do it on your own, whether it's talking to your provider. So educate yourself. Communication is just totally essential. We want feedback...if something's happening, just please get in touch with us so we can nip things in the bud...you have to be your own advocate...don't be bashful, be an advocate for yourself." - Randall Starling, Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
Instagram Live Discussion with Patient Advocate Brittany Clayborne, Psy.D. and Jennifer Thibodeau, MD, MSCS:
"I think it's important as a physician for me, what I pride myself on, is to really get to know my patients. There's no protocol, there's no assembly line. There's no right answer for every person. I think really knowing what's important to each person, and what we need to do for each person, and get to know what's going on outside of you in that hospital bed, helps to guide the right choice for you." - Jennifer Thibodeau, Medical Director, UT Southwestern Medical Center