Table 1. Overview of study characteristics.

First Author, YR	Country	N	Period of Intervention	Description of Usual Care	Description of Virtual Ward Intervention	Patient Population	Mean Age	% Female
Heart Failure Patient Population
Angermann, 2012	Germany	715	6 months	Patients received standard post-discharge planning encompassing therapeutic plans, discharge letters, and scheduled follow-up appointments with either a general practitioner or cardiologist in 1–2 weeks. No restrictions were imposed on outpatient care.	In addition to usual care, patient telemonitoring and education involving nurses, general practitioners and cardiologists. Nurse-driven telephone contacts for cardiac monitoring and inquiries into general health informed patient care plans.	Patients aged 18+, hospitalized with decompensated heart failure, and a LVEF ≤40%	69	29
Antonicelli, 2008	Italy	57	12 months	Patients received follow-up care in the form of routinely scheduled visits every four months, with additional visits as deemed necessary, with a team specialized in heart failure management. Patients were contacted on a monthly basis to collect data on new hospital admissions, cardiovascular complications and death. Discharge counseling regarding therapeutic medication and lifestyle adherence was provided.	Patient telemonitoring involving specialized heart failure team. Team-driven telephone contacts for cardiac monitoring, medication adherence, and inquiries into general health conducted at least once weekly in addition to a weekly EKG transmission. Therapeutic regimen was regularly reassessed and altered when necessary. Clinic visits were performed whenever necessary, based on telemonitored data or telephone interviews.	Patients aged 70+, hospitalized with decompensated heart failure	78	39
Dendale, 2012	Belgium	160	6 months	Patients received a nurse-led heart failure education course before discharge. Follow-up care was arranged at two-weeks post-discharge in the heart-failure clinic for patient assessment and treatment modifications, if necessary. Subsequent management was under the care of the patient's general practitioner who could refer the patient for cardiology management if needed.	In addition to usual care patients were seen in the outpatient heart failure clinic with additional planned visits at 3 and 6 months. Daily patient telemonitoring was conducted with specified alert limits set for each patient. Alterations in patient status were forwarded to the general practitioner and heart failure clinic for subsequent patient follow-up and management. Following changes to therapeutic regimen, a nurse-led telephone follow-up assessed intervention efficacy. General practitioners were free to contact the patient as desired. An online database was created to facilitate cross-communication between the general practitioner and heart failure team, to optimize patient management.	Patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure. All patients had to be treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, and a beta-blocker in the absence of contraindications.	76	35
Giordano, 2009	Italy	460	12 months	Patients received structured follow-up care from their primary care physician within two weeks of discharge in addition to an appointment with their cardiologist at 12 months post-discharge for assessment.	Patient telemonitoring involving medical and nursing professionals. Daily transmission of cardiac parameters was monitored by a cardiologist, general practitioner and nurse, who assessed the patient’s clinical status, providing consultation or triage. Nurse-driven telephone contacts to assess patient status and treatment regimen adherence were conducted weekly, or bi-weekly, dependent on patient status. Patient clinical appointments and additional investigations were requested as per patient status. Once a week the cardiologist and the nurse met together to sum up a clinical course of the enrolled patients. An online database was created as a patient record, to optimize patient management.	Patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure, LVEF<40% and at least one hospitalization for acute heart failure in the previous year.	57	15
Kasper, 2002	USA	200	6 months	Patients received unrestricted follow-up care from their primary physicians, who received a baseline heart failure management plan, as documented in the patient's chart.	Patients received nurse-led care coordination linked to a multidisciplinary team composed of a heart failure nurse, cardiologist and patient’s primary care physician. Patients were contacted via telephone at preplanned intervals after discharge, in addition to scheduled visits within the community. Depending on patient factors, visits could be scheduled more frequently. Weekly care team meetings were held to discuss and optimize patient management.	Patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure, NYHA Class III/IV, and presence of one or more additional designated high-risk criteria: aged 75+, LVEF<35%, one additional heart failure admission in past year, ischemic cardiomyopathy, peripheral edema at hospital discharge, <3kg of weight loss during hospital stay, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >25mmHg, cardiac Index <2.0L/min/m2, systolic blood pressure >180mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >100mmHg.	62	39
Leventhal, 2011	Switzerland	42	12 months	Patients received unrestricted follow-up care from their primary care physician.	Patients received structured telephone support/assessments and home visits led by a heart failure nurse specialist. A multidisciplinary approach was taken to individualize care plans with the inclusion of the patient’s primary care physician, and internist, cardiology and dietary consultation where necessary.	Patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure, NYHA Class II-IV, irrespective of LVEF, and aBNP≥ 100pg/mL. Additional criteria included history of dyspnea, increased fatigue or weakness, and German speakers.	77	38
Undifferentiated High Risk Chronic Disease Patients
Caplan, 2004	Australia	370	30 days	Patients were discharged to home with a therapeutic management plan as outlined by the emergency department medical officer.	Patients received nurse-led care coordination in addition to care management from a multidisciplinary team. A nurse-led home visit was conducted within 24 hours of discharge. Information collected on patient status was subsequently used to formulate a care plan, and initiate interventions and referral. Weekly interdisciplinary team meetings, composed of a geriatrician or a geriatric registrar, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, were held to discuss optimization of patient care plans. Throughout the process, the nurse care coordinator liaised with the patient's general practitioner.	Patients aged years 75+, discharged from the emergency department.	82	60
Dhalla, 2014	Canada	1923	> 12 months	Patients and their primary care providers received a discharge summary, a therapeutic plan including prescriptions and home care arrangements as necessary. Patients received discharge counseling from a member of the health care team. Patients received either recommended or scheduled appointments for follow-up care with their primary care or specialist physicians. While not routine, follow-up care within the hospital's post-discharge clinic could be arranged by the discharging hospital physician as seen fit.	Usual care plus, patients received care coordination in addition to care management from a multidisciplinary team through telephone, home visits, and/or clinic visits. The VW team consisted of care coordinators, a pharmacist, a nurse or nurse practitioner, a physician, and a clerical assistant. Daily meetings were held with the team to discuss enrolled patients and design/modify individual treatment plans.	Patients aged years 18+, discharged from a general internal medicine ward, and LACE score ≥10.	71	49
Hansen, 1995	Denmark	193	6 months	Patients received follow-up care from their general practitioner, who received a discharge summary. Unspecified social supports were provided to patients on the day of patient discharge. No geriatric follow-up visits within the community were provided.	A multidisciplinary team composed of a geriatrician, nurse and physical therapist conducted multiple scheduled patient visits, with additional visits informed by patient need. Serial patient evaluations informed patient management strategies and need for optimization of care plans. Communication with the patient’s general practitioner was maintained over the course of the intervention.	Patients discharged from a subacute geriatric ward	80	67
Rytter, 2010	Denmark	333	12 weeks	Patients received follow-up care from their general practitioner who received post-discharge letters.	Patient follow-up consisted of three contacts: a joint home visit involving both a GP and nurse at one-week, with either clinic or home-visit at three and eight weeks post-discharge. At each visit patient care plans were reevaluated and changes according to patient status implemented.	Patients aged years 78+, discharged from the geriatric or internal medicine wards, and hospitalized for a minimum of two days.	83	66