Mercy Keeps Patients With Heart Failure Healthier and Out of the Hospital

Mercy's new specialized programs are in communities with some of the highest rates of heart failure in the nation

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercy's commitment to keeping patients healthier and out of the hospital includes a focus on those with heart failure, a life-threatening disease that accounts for almost 14% of all deaths across the U.S. With new dedicated programs, patients will be able to manage their disease by visiting fluid management sites on an outpatient basis when symptoms worsen. To date, Mercy has opened nine of these specialized programs across Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and plans to open three more.

"It's such a relief to patients like me that I don't have to worry about ending up in the hospital again," said Debra Habben, 69, who was diagnosed with heart failure last year and spent time in Mercy Hospital Springfield in July, August and October. Now, whenever Habben notices her body is retaining fluid again ‒ the most common symptom of heart failure ‒ she reaches out to her physician, who quickly refers her to one of Mercy's fluid management programs.

"I can't say enough great things about the team that cared for me," Habben said. "They really watch out for you."

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure or CHF, is a chronic, progressive disease in which the heart muscle struggles to efficiently pump blood and deliver oxygen throughout the body. This lack of circulation causes excess fluid to build up in the feet, ankles and lungs, making it difficult for patients to breathe.

"Typically, heart failure patients go to their nearest ER and then spend three to five days in the hospital when they need fluid removed," said Dr. John Mohart, cardiologist and Mercy's chief operating officer. "It's devastating for patients and their families and often creates a revolving door of hospital visits and escalating health care costs for them."

To improve the care and experience of CHF patients, Mercy is keeping them out of the hospital by managing their fluids in an outpatient setting. Mercy piloted the first fluid management program at Mercy Hospital Washington late last year and saw a significant drop in CHF admissions and readmissions at the hospital.

"Instead of spending several days in the hospital, patients can be treated at one of the new fluid management sites within an hour on average, and then they get to go home," said Dr. Brian Seeck, Mercy cardiologist in Washington, Missouri, where the fluid management program logged more than 300 patient visits in the first few months of the pilot. "We are improving the care and the lives of our patients. I'm proud to work for a health system that's dedicated to finding ways to improve patient care."

Patients can access treatment at one of Mercy's fluid management sites after being referred by a Mercy provider (ie: a Mercy primary care physician, cardiologist or a Mercy emergency department). To determine how many days they need to visit the program for treatment, each patient will be assessed by a heart failure specialist on site.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid. 

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SOURCE Mercy