Common Comorbidities that Alter Heart Failure Prognosis - Shaping New Thinking for Practice

Figures

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  Fig. (1). Common denominator of endothelial function and cardiovascular diseases. (A higher resolution / colour version of this figure is available in the electronic copy of the article).

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  Fig. (2). Model of training and practice and potential missing links; A. Governments provide accreditation bodies the authority to determine the scope and breadth of training for cardiologists servicing health clusters. Regulatory authorities supervise this process. Clinical services are then provided, and standards are required, again supervised by accrediting bodies and monitored by regulatory bodies. The issue for the present is the communication of these two bodies to shape the needs of an individual health cluster. For e.g., a cardiology practice in remote Aboriginal communities will differ from one in a low socioeconomic, multiethnic community. B. Essential elements for training and practice are highlighted. At each stage, greater emphasis is placed on different elements. For optimal cost- efficiency, all these elements should be present; however, it is not always possible in clinical practice. Leveraging/ facilitating cooperation across the spectrum of that speciality can ensure trainee specialist communication/ corporation facilitates continuity of standards on either side. A ‘Community Consultant’ could be the missing link in the current system to feedback specific issues to…

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  Fig. (3). Disease Management components, Measuring Performance and Cost Efficacy; (A) Disease management is now standardised through well-established taxonomies. Designing a model of care requires an understanding of historical and current modelling of future care. Within each health cluster, disease management programs are designed that administer care via domains. Dimensions of care are specific aspects of care within each domain. In defining the key performance indicators from established performance measures, collaboration is required between stakeholders. Bodies such as the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) could play important roles in a given endorsement or validating the ‘Process of Care’ findings. This will ensure a step lock measure in the process and enhance credibility for translational works or even go further to define the priority areas research bodies could fund. (B) Finally, cost-efficacy includes both clinical and research works. As there are significant overlaps for high value works across cardiac and comorbidity associated specialities, collaboration across a broader alliance could provide data to identify the loci for cost efficacy disease management…