Let's Be Heart Smart and Figure out CHF!

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About the Course:
In the geriatric population, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a very prevalent disease. All health care providers must take an active role in the management of this condition. This role includes understanding how to manage the disease in acute phases, in chronic phases, and how to educate patients so that they can have a more active role in their disease management. This course will discuss at an in-depth level the pathology of CHF including the various types. This understanding of the pathology is essential so that all health care providers can provide the most thorough and comprehensive treatment. The course will discuss all aspects of disease management including medications, lifestyle modifications, exercise and daily monitoring. In addition, this course will review normal cardiovascular and pulmonary anatomy and physiology and the monitoring of these two systems. This information will be applied in a case study at the end of the course to ensure that participants gain practical application skills of the material presented.

Course Objectives:
1. Identify three systems of the body and explain the effect that congestive heart failure has on these.
2. Select three causes of congestive heart failure.
3. Identify two differences in the symptoms between the right side and left side heart failure.
4. Recognize two of the lab values that are commonly used to evaluate a patient with congestive heart failure.
5. Locate the symptoms of each of the stage The New York Heart Association has classified for congestive heart failure.
6. Select two components of patient assessment that are essential in a patient with congestive heart failure.
7. Select three common classes of drugs used to treat congestive heart failure.
8. Locate three contraindications to exercise that may be found in a patient with congestive heart failure.
9. Select two key areas of patient education.

About the Author:
Suzanne Greenwalt, a licensed physical therapist, received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from A.T. Still University and a Master in Physical Therapy from Saint Louis University. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings including rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, acute care and out- patient rehabilitation. Suzanne is a board certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and a board certified Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist. She is an educator in two doctor of physical therapy programs and is an educator and mentor in a geriatric residency program. 

This course is a video, on-demand course.