Quality Indicators for Heart Failure Treatment
The following are some of the best medical practices for treating heart failure as outlined by the Federal Government. A best medical practice is a treatment that has been proven to provide the best results for most patients. These treatments are considered an important part of the patient's overall care.

Best practice calls for hospitals to make sure heart failure patients get the following care:

ACE Inhibitor for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction:
Patients should be given an ACE Inhibitor (a type of medication used to treat some heart problems by stopping the production of a hormone that can narrow blood vessels). The medicine helps to reduce the pressure in the heart, improve heart function, and lower blood pressure.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Function:
Patients should have their hearts checked to see how the left chamber is pumping. A Left Ventricular Function (LVF) assessment is a test of the left side of the heart that helps doctors find the cause of heart failure. It includes listening to the heart and ordering tests such as:
1. Chest x-ray
2. Blood work
3. Echocardiogram (ECG)

Heart Failure Quality Score Card
The ultimate goal for each indicator is 100%, and the staff of Bedford Regional Medical Center are continually working toward achieving that goal.