Confronting Challenges in Reducing Heart Failure 30‐Day Readmissions: Lessons Learned With Implications for Evidence‐Based Practice

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is considered a condition in which a portion of hospital admissions are preventable if timely and appropriate outpatient care management occurs. Facility readmission rates for HF are reportable and subject to penalty. Both military and civilian healthcare systems have fiscal responsibility and are accountable for successful disease management. Therefore, best practices and evidence‐based strategies to reduce readmissions are in critical demand. However, translating best evidence into practice can be challenging due to the complexities of the healthcare system. AIMS: This crosswalk paper provides strategies and considerations for nurses planning HF readmission reduction initiatives. METHODS: Insight regarding implementation strategies, challenges, successes, and lessons learned is shared through a framework‐guided description of two separate but similar HF readmission reduction projects conducted in military and civilian healthcare facilities. RESULTS: Lessons learned suggest defined and attainable outcomes, multidisciplinary inclusivity, redundancy in roles, greater collaboration, and engagement with stakeholders are most beneficial when initiated before dedicating resources and continuously throughout practice change implementation, maintenance, and sustainment. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The authors advocate for interdisciplinary evidence‐based practice consortiums to share lessons learned that may promote success potential and optimize return on invested time and efforts in the same or similar initiatives—in this instance, reducing 30‐day readmissions for HF patients.