The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) names heart disease as the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Yet, heart failure is underrepresented in hospice care. Studies suggest only one in 10 patients with advanced heart failure is referred to hospice¹.

Instead, hospice is often considered for patients with advanced cancer—though both illnesses present similar symptom burden and psychological strain². With better care for patients with heart failure, they can experience a higher quality of life. Hospice offers improved pain and symptom management and emotional well-being to maximize the end-of-life journey for patients and families.

With industry-leading hospice services, trust VITAS to care for your patients with advanced cardiac disease. All VITAS programs throughout the US have earned the American Heart Association’s Palliative/Hospice Heart Failure Certification—the first nationwide hospice organization to receive this achievement.

This certification ensures that VITAS clinical practices align with the American Heart Association’s science-based, evidence-driven standards for heart failure care at the end of life. With this trusted endorsement, patients with advanced cardiac disease can be confident VITAS will provide best-in-class cardiac care from initial admission through bereavement.

Our clinicians trained in cardiac care serve patients wherever the patient calls home—an assisted living facility, nursing home, or private home. In some locations, a VITAS inpatient unit is available for symptoms that cannot be managed at home. In each setting, a multidisciplinary team works together to ensure the patient receives clinical, emotional, spiritual, and social support.

Throughout their care trajectory, VITAS helps patients and families navigate advanced heart disease with both dignity and comfort.

1. Kheirbek, et al. (2015). Discharge hospice referral and lower 30-day all-cause readmission in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure. Circulation: Heart Failure, 8(4), 733-740.

2. Bekelman, et al. (2009) “Symptom burden, depression, and spiritual well-being: a comparison of heart failure and advanced cancer patients.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 24.5: 592-598.