by Prateek Chopra | May 31, 2026 | Cardiology Conferences | ESC-HF 2026
Management of acute and chronic HF requires continuous monitoring, yet existing workflows using multiple systems were fragmented and time-consuming. To improve care coordination and support NICOR/National Heart Failure Audit requirements, a new HF pro forma was introduced to streamline monitoring and data collection. The project aimed to improve daily patient monitoring, provide comprehensive management information, and facilitate audit data collection. The findings were presented at Heart Failure 2026, organized by the European Society of Cardiology, held in Barcelona, Spain, from 9–12 May 2026.
A “Heart Failure Pro forma” was implemented in the Cardiology ward, alongside two cycles of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology to evaluate service improvement. Awareness sessions were conducted among junior and senior medical staff, as well as nursing teams, to encourage adoption of the new monitoring system for all patients admitted with HF. Following a 10-week implementation period, the intervention was evaluated through case-note reviews, questionnaires, and user feedback.
Most superusers reported positive subjective assessments regarding the usefulness and effectiveness of the pro forma for patient monitoring. Compliance with completion of the pro forma improved significantly following the intervention and PDSA cycles. However, sessions focused on recording BNP results and HF medications were less favorably received. Use of the pro forma did not influence the duration of hospitalization. The short-term implementation period was identified as a limitation in assessing the long-term effectiveness of record-keeping practices.
The newly introduced HF pro forma was found to provide essential information for monitoring patients, assessing treatment response, and supporting the management of patients admitted to the Cardiology ward. Although compliance requires further improvement, continued use is anticipated to enhance adherence over time. Future plans include the development of an electronic monitoring sheet system to further optimize HF patient management and audit reporting.