Every CHF patient should have an action plan for get-ting emergency care quickly in the event of severe symptoms. The action plan should consist of the following.
Things you’ll need at home:
- Contact information for doctor, hospital, therapists,pharmacists, ambulance, and friends or family who can help in an emergency. This information should be prominently displayed near the telephone.
- Written directions to the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. You may not be able to talk easily, so giving directions will be difficult.
- Written information on when to call the doctor,under what circumstances, and how frequently
- A schedule of medications and what dosages to take under specific circumstances
- A copy of your last EKG
- An accurate bathroom scale
- Know what your normal “dry” weight is and your current weight is. Your “dry weight” is your weight when you’ve been taking your diuretics and you have no shortness of breath and no hand swelling
- A list of those signs or symptoms that should prompt an immediate visit to the doctor’s office
- A list of those signs or symptoms that should prompt an immediate call for an ambulance and a visit to the ER
Things you’ll need if you go to the doctor’s office or hospital:
- A complete list of your medications and dosages(prescription and over-the-counter), vitamins, and inoculations, and the prescribing doctor
- A list of any over-the-counter (OTC) medications,cold remedies, herbal cures, homeopathic treatments,teas, or cultural-based treatments such as acupuncture, cupping, or coin rolling that you are currently under going
- All medications or other substances to which you have known allergic reactions
- If you have them, you should bring copies of your most recent EKG or similar tests/reports
- What your normal “dry” weight is and what your current weight is
- Some cash to spend
- An updated copy of your advance directive, medical proxy, or medical power of attorney form and organ donation card if applicable
- A description of your medical history, in chronological sequence (including your use of tobacco, alcohol,or drugs)
- Insurance company cards or at least names and policy numbers
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your next-of-kin
This action plan should be developed with the help of your physician, after a full assessment of the following:
- Availability and response times of ambulances
- Availability of friends and family who can drive in an emergency
- Proximity to an ER or doctor’s office
- Availability of relatives or friends who can stay with the patient until the patient improves or a visit to the doctor is decided on
After this assessment, you can develop an action plan with your doctor and determine the appropriate treatment steps for signs and symptoms of respiratory difficulty, chest pain, or increased leg swelling.Family members and those that are close to you should be informed and participate in this emergency action plan.
Victoria’s comment: I’ve gone over most of these issues with my cardiologist. I have a copy of my EKG that I carry in my purse. My husband knows what to do when I start getting short of breath, and I’ve written the numbers of my doctors and local ambulance by the phone so I can get them in an emergency. I think these are important things to do and they have been helpful to me more than once.