Exploring Which EHR Interventions Improve Heart Failure Hospitalization Outcomes Across 10 Hospitals
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-16-2026
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of mortality and hospitalization despite advances in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support tools may improve care delivery, but their impact on outcomes remains ill-defined.
PROJECT RATIONALE: As part of a system-wide HF quality improvement initiative, we evaluated 2 EHR interventions: an evidence-based HF admission order set promoting early diuresis and GDMT optimization, and a templated HF documentation tool (HFNOTE) designed to capture clinical complexity.
PROJECT SUMMARY: We analyzed 4,865 HF hospitalizations across 10 hospitals between December 2024 and June 2025. Overall risk-adjusted mortality index was 0.83 and 30-day readmission index was 1.07. Both admission order set and HFNOTE use were associated with lower mortality index compared to nonuse. Readmission indices were similar across groups.
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Targeted EHR interventions were associated with lower risk-adjusted inpatient mortality with a limited impact on 30-day readmissions, warranting further analyses to determine causal effects.
Recommended Citation
Qamar, Sheraz; Alvarado, Andres; Buckwalter, Thomas; Henwood, Patricia C.; Jordan, Dana; Martino, Cara; Riggio, Jeffrey; Sacksteder, Charlotte; Vanderzell, Jared; and Kubey, Alan, "Exploring Which EHR Interventions Improve Heart Failure Hospitalization Outcomes Across 10 Hospitals" (2026). Department of Medicine Faculty Papers. Paper 590.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/medfp/590
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
42752023
Language
English
Included in
Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Investigative Techniques Commons, Quality Improvement Commons

Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in JACC: Case Reports, Volume 31, Issue 37, 2026, Article number 109816.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2026.109816. Copyright © 2026 The Authors.