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Heart Plan in a Box Logo - REV

A quality improvement toolkit for heart failure management in primary care

Heart Plan in a Box provides tools and resources that will help you implement QI activities specific to the needs of your own practice.

Watch the full video of Suzanne's presentation:
Suzanne Blackeby, nurse educator and Heart Plan in a Box steering committee member.

Improve your practice x2-1
Improve your practice
PIP QI payments x2 2
PIP QI payments
Earn CPD points x2-1
Earn CPD points

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RACGP accredited for more than 50 hours of CPD

This RACGP-accredited tool offers support with quality improvement for heart failure management in primary care. The RACGP CPD Program requires a minimum of 50 CPD hours per year across different activity types.1 By completing this activity, your staff will be eligible for a total of 56 CPD hours. 

CPD Approved Activity- Hybrid copy

Cycle breakdown

   

Educational Activities

Measuring Outcomes

Reviewing Performance

PW

Pre-work/Disease Education

1

0

0

1

Data-driven Improvement

2

8

1

2

Diagnosis of Heart Failure

1

7

1

3

GPMPs and TCAs

1

6

1

4

Optimisation of Heart Failure Treatment

1

6

1

5

Recall of Patients for Review

1.5

6

1

6

Patient Education

0.5

0

2

7

End-of-life Care Planning

1

5

2
Heart Plan in a Box Logo - REV

How to make it work

Hear tips on how to get started with the program from Suzanne Blackeby, nurse educator and Heart Plan in a Box steering committee member

Doctor patient heart check

Ready to improve quality of care for heart failure patients and be eligible for PIP QI payments?*

Download the toolkit and look for regular updates from us in your inbox over the coming weeks as we guide you through your QI journey.

* Eligible general practices can claim PIP QI payments if they provide the PIP Eligible Data Set each quarter to their local primary health network (PHN) and participate in continuous quality improvement activities in partnership with their local PHN.2

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Why heart failure management matters in primary care

Patients aged 45-64 years with congestive heart failure will see their GP 12 times per year on average.3

During these visits GPs could:4

Identify 2-2

Identify patients who would benefit from comprehensive assessment

Recognise 2-1

Recognise heart failure symptoms and act promptly to optimise management

Perform 2-1

Perform a comprehensive assessment

Provide 2-1

Provide patient education and support for self care

Promote 2-1

Promote prevention activities e.g. vaccinations, healthy lifestyle habits

Develop 2-1

Develop a plan for HF management along with any comorbidities

Coordinate 2-1

Coordinate referrals to cardiologists and other relevant health services

Monitor 2

Monitor treatment efficacy and side effects; titrate doses for best outcomes

We cannot afford to underestimate the fatality of heart failure, even with treatment:

1 in 5 x2

1 in 5

people with HF will die within 1 year of diagnosis5

1 in 2 x2

1 in 2

people with HF will die within 5 year of diagnosis6,7

GP practices like yours can make a difference by participating in QI activities, such as Heart Plan in a Box, to improve the quality of care for heart failure patients.

Ready to get on board?
Register to access the program.

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Onboarding

Abbreviations: CPD - Continuous Professional Development; GP - general practitioner; GPMP - general practitioner management plan; HF - heart failure; PIP - Practice Incentives Program; PHN - primary health network; QI - Quality Improvement; RACGP - Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; TCA - team care arrangement

References: 1. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: 2023-25 Triennium; 2023. Available at: https://www.racgp.org.au/education/professional-development/cpd/2023-triennium (accessed August 2023). 2. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement Incentive Fact Sheet - What practices need to know, ed. 2019. 3. Britt H, et al., General practice activity in Australia 2015–16. General practice series no. 40. 2016, Sydney: Sydney University Press. 4. Taylor CJ et al. Aust Fam Physician 2016; 45: 823–827. 5. Gerber Y et al. JAMA Intern Med 2015; 175: 996–1004. 6. Roger VL et al. JAMA 2004; 292: 344–350. 7. Atherton J et al. Heart Lung Circ 2018; 27: 1123–1208.

AU-22743. August 2023