Table 2.

Components of a structured heart failure‐specific discharge note

• Demographics and administrative data

• Diagnosis and cause of heart failure

• Clinical status at admission (NYHA class)

• Echocardiographic findings and natriuretic peptide levels confirming diagnosis

• Copy of an electrocardiogram mentioning QRS duration, rhythm, presence of atrioventricular or bundle branch, or fascicular block

• Laboratory tests results (urea, creatinine, haemoglobin, BNP or NT‐proBNP, and discharge electrolytes)

• Patient weight at discharge (‘dry weight’)

• Blood pressure and heart rate at discharge

• Medications and dosing during hospitalization and following discharge. If no beta‐blockers, MRAs, ACEIs, or, alternatively, ARBs are administered record and document reason

• Titration instructions and reasons for use of smaller target doses

• Instructions concerning blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight targets

• Arrhythmic risk stratification and, on indications, programming for implantation of a cardiac rhythm management device (defibrillator, biventricular pacemaker)

• Encouragement for daily monitoring of body weight and, in case of abrupt increase—more than 2 kg in 3 days, contact with treating physician

• Encouragement for smoking cessation and referral to specialized centres

• Targeted dietary instructions

• Instructions for administration and monitoring of anticoagulation therapy, on indications, as well as cautions for co‐administration with certain medications (antibiotics)

• Instructions for annual flu vaccination

• Instructions for reassessment at a dedicated heart failure outpatient clinic following a laboratory workup (which should be detailed)

• Names of treating physicians, with attached copies of their instructions

• Patient information regarding contact details for Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic, both of the discharging hospital and hospitals near patient's residence