Consulting Services

Inova Health System Heart Failure Program

The Iowa Chronic Care Consortium recently served as the developmental consultant to the Heart & Vascular Institute of the Inova Health System in northern Virginia for implementation of a heart failure care coordination program based on the model that ICCC used in its CHF demonstration projects in Iowa. Based on the business plan developed by ICCC, Inova made the decision to implement the program, called the Inova HeartLink Tel-Assurance Program, to all six hospitals within their system.

Inova's flagship hospital, Inova Fairfax, is nationally known for its quality in cardiovascular care. The program is supported entirely by Inova, which believes that the cost savings will more than cover the program expenses. The program is coordinated by the cardiac rehab department at each hospital. Early results of the program are producing strong trends in reduced hospitalizations.

The care coordination program is a combination of telehealth monitoring, as developed by Pharos Innovations, LLC, and supportive follow-up through the staff of the cardiac rehab programs at Inova.

Clinical HRA Project

ICCC is exploring the use of health risk assessments (HRAs) in provider settings. ICCC has met with two providers, one in West Des Moines, and one in northwest Iowa to explore the use of HRAs in their clinics as a pilot project. One of the providers is part of a large health system and the other has a private practice, as well as staffs a Community Health Center.

Interests for the pilot include:

  • Exploring the use of the HRA in supporting the medical home model
  • Assessing the utility of the HRA as a health education tool for patients in preparation for and during new patient physical exams
  • Exploring the utility of the HRA as a form of registry for providers that do not have existing data bases
  • Exploring the utility of the HRA in combination with health coaching in the provider setting
  • Empowering patients to take individual responsibility for making positive lifestyle changes and choices

Employee Wellness Programs

ICCC provides consultation to employers and other wellness program providers on the deployment of health risk assessments and the planning of health improvement activities for their employee populations. For more information on these services please contact ICCC through the contact numbers provided on this site.