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Heart Failure Clinic

The Heart Failure Clinic at Rice has been developed to help patients and their loved ones meet the challenge of heart failure through a supportive relationship with trusted health care professionals.  The purpose of this clinic is to improve the quality of life of patients with heart failure by providing easy access to care, evaluating individual responses to drug therapy, and providing extensive and ongoing education about medications, diet, fluid and weight management, exercise/activity, and disease process. 

The clinic is located on the second floor of the Lakeland Health Center, directly across the street from Rice Hospital.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure is a major health problem that affects more than 4.7 million Americans, affecting approximately 10 out of 1,000 persons over the age of 65.  It is estimated that there are 550,000 new cases each year.

Heart failure is a common condition that usually develops slowly as the heart muscle weakens and needs to work harder to keep blood flowing through the body.  Heart failure develops following injury to the heart such as damage caused by a heart attack, long-term high blood pressure, or an abnormality of one or more  heart valves.

What are the Symptoms of Heart Failure?
Think FACES. 

                F atigue
                A ctivities limited
                C hest congestion
                E dema or ankle swelling
                S hortness of breath

The Challenge
Living with heart failure usually requires significant lifestyle changes and multiple drug therapies. It can be one of the greatest challenges a person ever faces. By working together as a team, you will learn effective strategies for living with your condition. The key to achieving and maintaining optimal health are recognizing potential problems and learning how to  respond promptly to these signs and symptoms.

A Comprehensive Approach to Heart Failure
The Heart Failure Clinic at Rice Memorial Hospital brings together a team that is specialized in heart failure and understands how to help you manage it.  The team will work closely with you, your physician and your family.  This kind of an integrated and individualized approach will help you live effectively live with heart failure.

Our team includes physicians and certified advanced practice registered nurses who have specialized in heart failure, nurses, dietitians, exercise physiologists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and support staff.

For more information on the Heart Failure Clinic contact:

Aimee Te Brake, Clinical Nurse Specialist, CHF Clinic,
ateb@rice.willmar.mn.us
320.231.8770 or 1-800-625-9175