CHF Clinic Nurse Practitioners:

Rita Healy, RN, ANP

Susan Smith, MS, ANP

The CHF clinic is a member of the Minnesota Heart Failure Consortium.

CHF Clinic Goals

Recent research indicates that intensive outpatient management of congestive heart failure minimizes the need for emergent treatment or hospitalization and dramatically improves the patient's quality of life. By participating in a CHF clinic, your health can be monitored and adjustments can be made to medications and exercise to keep you as healthy as possible. Steady monitoring of symptoms will decrease your chances of hospital admission.

The CHF Clinic includes comprehensive outpatient management, diet instruction and referral to Home Health Service (if needed).

A Team of Health Care Professionals

After being referred to the CHF Clinic, a team of health care professionals will work together to design a treatment plan, specifically designed to fit your needs. The professionals will follow and monitor your progress throughout your course of treatment.

Physicians – A cardiologist will design a comprehensive treatment plan that provides the foundation to keep you as healthy as possible.

Nurse Practitioners – Advanced practice nurses will monitor your medications and evaluate you through frequent appointments and telephone conversations. Along with the other members of the health care team, they will teach your family and you how to live with CHF and how to identify signs and symptoms that may require attention.

You and your family are active members of the CHF health care team. You will learn how to take control of heart failure through diet and lifestyle changes and how to identify more serious symptoms.