Abstract
Scalable, interprofessional care models are needed to support chronic disease management and improve access to speciality services. A community hospital heart function clinic expanded from a single-site, nurse practitioner–led model to a two-site interprofessional program over 4 years. The objective was to examine program growth, service utilization, and operational strategies supporting sustainable expansion. A retrospective review assessed annual encounters, visit types, and provider activity across nursing, pharmacy, supportive cardiology, and community partnerships. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided analysis of implementation and scalability. Annual encounters increased from 1,562 to 4,623, with unique patients rising from 566 to 854. Registered Nurse telephone follow-ups expanded substantially, with additional growth in Nurse Practitioner and pharmacy visits. The second site accounted for nearly 10% of visits, improving regional access. Interprofessional collaboration and distributed care supported sustainable growth and improved access to specialized heart failure services.
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