Local residents living with congestive heart failure will soon benefit from scales thanks to a generous $1,000 grant the AmadorCommunity Foundation presented to SutterAmador Hospital and the Sutter CareCoordination Program.  

The Sutter Care Coordination Program, a program that originated over two decades ago under the direction of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, started April 2013 in Amador County so that patients with anti-coagulation, diabetes and heart failure could be monitored telephonically by local registered nurse case manager, Mel Welsh. In the case of Heart Failure Management, patients are monitored for 30-45 days post hospital discharge.

“One of the most important signs and symptoms of heart failure to report is weight gain,” says Mel Welsh, RN Case Manager. “This is often the first sign of worsening heart failure.

According to Welsh, if fluid weight gain is recognized early and the patient’s primary care provider is notified in a timely manner, the symptoms may be reversed by adjusting diuretic medication. This early intervention may defer a hospital or Emergency Department visit. Mel receives approximately 10 referrals a month for patients with heart failure from Sutter Amador Hospital. Of those, approximately three will not have a scale.

“Thanks to support from the Amador Community Foundation, beginning August 1 I will be able to provide scales to patients who do not have a scale or who are unable to get out to purchase one,” says Welsh. “This is a tremendous service to our community and will help support prevention, Emergency Department visits and hospital readmission for our heart failure patients.”

“Ongoing support to programs like these is critical to their success,” said Kathleen Harmon, Executive Director of the Amador Community Foundation. “The Amador Community Foundation is happy to partner with Sutter to benefit the lives of people in our community.”